 emember
twenty years ago when we didn't wear sunscreen? Times have certainly changed.
Today, most people wear sunscreen when they expect to be out in the sun because
they know the health effects of too much sun. Now, enjoying summer weather also
brings with it the risk of West
Nile virus and habits are changing once again. The use of insect repellent
needs to become part of our outdoor routine, just like sunscreen, to protect
ourselves from mosquito bites that may result in infection with West Nile virus.
West Nile virus is mainly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected
mosquito. Symptoms range from flu-like to severe and potentially fatal, especially
for older people and people with ongoing medical conditions. Anyone, of any
age or health status, is at risk for serious health effects from West Nile virus.
The chances of being infected with West Nile virus are low, but your risk increases
if you don't protect yourself from mosquito bites. The first North American
outbreak of West Nile virus was in 1999 in New York City. In 2003, over 1,300
Canadians were infected and became ill due to West Nile virus.
Reducing your risk of West Nile virus though can be as easy as wearing insect
repellent with DEET or other approved ingredients when you go outside. Mosquitoes
can bite at any time of the day or night so you need to take precautions when
you're in an area where West Nile is active. Other precautions you can take
to reduce your risk of getting bitten include wearing a hat and light-coloured
clothing with long sleeves and pant legs when going outside. You should also
ensure all the screens in your house are hole-free and fit snugly, and eliminate
any sources of standing water, the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, on
your property.
We all know that insect repellent is not like perfume. That's the idea. It
is designed to repel mosquitoes and other insects as long as we follow the directions
on the package. It should be applied lightly to exposed skin or on top of clothes,
and today's repellents are much less smelly than those developed in the past.
There is no question that putting on mosquito repellent - and sunscreen, for
that matter - is an inconvenience. But both protect us from diseases that can
be fatal. It is a small price to pay for good health.
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