(Spirit Lake)– It’s that time of year again. Mosquito season is here.
Local health officials are again sounding the alarm about the pests and the dangers of West Nile Virus, which mosquitoes transmit from infected birds.
Dickinson County Public Health Nurse Mary Dunleavy says it’s very important you protect yourself when you’re outdoors. She says you can do that by wearing long pants and long-sleeve shirts and by applying an insect repellant that has “deet” in it to any exposed areas.
Dunleavy also recommends avoiding being outdoors during times of the day when mosquitoes are most active–at dusk and daybreak.
Dunleavy says you should also limit places where mosquitoes breed. You can do that by making sure there’s no standing water on your property.
Dunleavy also recommends repairing any holes in screens.
Dunleavy hasn’t heard yet from state officials as to what we might expect as far as how severe any outbreak of West Nile Virus may be this summer.
The peak time of year for mosquito activity is July through September, or the first killing frost.
