Prevention
Prevention Tips
No matter how rare this disease may be, it’s still best to take precautions against it. To help prevent infections and control mosquito infestations, here are a few tips:
- Avoid outside activity at dawn and dusk during the mosquito season (May to October). This is particularly important for the elderly and small children.
- Wear protective clothing (long pants and long sleeves) and apply insect repellant when outside.
- Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes in them.
- Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
- Properly disposing of potential water holding containers such as old tires, cans, and bottles.
- Drain all standing water on private property. Avoid standing water in boat and swimming pool covers, as well as toys such as wagons.
- Water in bird baths, ornamental pools, flower pots, and children's wading pools should be changed at least once a week.
- Stock permanent ponds with fish that eat mosquito larvae.
For more information, download the complete West Nile Virus informational brochure (PDF).
Prevention Responsibilities
The West Nile Virus is now considered to be a county-wide issue. Therefore, the County of Los Angeles and Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District are no longer picking up dead birds or investigating individual complaints of standing water.
To prevent the spread of this disease, private property owners are responsible for removing any standing water on their property. To report standing water on public properties, please contact the City's Neighborhood Improvement Division at 909-839-7030.
For more information, contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656 or visit their website.