Local
St. Louis County Confirms First West Nile Virus Case Confirmed In St Louis
By Bob Hudson
Sep 7, 2010 - 2:38:01 PM

The St. Louis County Department of Health has confirmed a case of West Nile Virus, the first of the year for the region. Department Director Dr. Dolores Gunn says a 51-year-old man in North County contracted the virus but has recovered. West Nile first showed up in Missouri in 2002. Since then, about 450 people have contracted the illness and 24 have died. Residents are asked to keep standing water from building up in cans and toys, keep gutters cleaned out and to drain pools. 

Many Missourians still have questions about protecting themselves.According to www.scchealth.org, the most frequently asked questions of public health departments in the St. Louis Metro Area concern mosquito repellants.Insect repellents help
people reduce their exposure to mosquito bites that may carry potentially serious viruses like West Nile virus. Apply repellent if you are going to be outdoors and at risk for getting bitten by mosquitoes, especially around dusk and dawn. But there are
mosquitoes carrying west nile virus  that also bite during the day, so the safest decision is to apply repellent whenever you are outdoors.

The most effective repellents contain DEET, which has been tested against a variety of biting insects and has been shown to be very effective. Based on a recent study: a product containing 23.8% DEET provides an average of five hours of protection from mosquito bites. A product containing 20% DEET provides around four hours of protection. A product with 6.65% DEET provides almost 2 hours of protection. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors.
Some non-DEET repellent products which are intended to be applied directly to skin also provide some protection from mosquito bites. However, studies have suggested that other products do not offer the same level of protection, or that protection does not last as long as products containing DEET. 

Products containing DEET are very safe, but always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label. Use enough to cover exposed skin or clothing. Don't apply repellent to skin that is under clothing. Heavy application is not necessary to achieve protection. Do not apply to cut, wounded or irritated skin. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water. Do not spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas. When using repellent on yourself or on a child, spray your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth.