How People Become Infected with West Nile Virus --

There are three things that must happen to spread the West Nile Virus :
· There must be an infected bird.
· A mosquito must bite an infected bird and become infected himself.
· The infected mosquito must then transfer the virus by biting a person.

Health authorities believe that people do not get West Nile Virus directly from a bird, other animals or an infected person. The mosquito is necessary to spread the virus. That is why prevention of West Nile Virus is best done by eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed. With few mosquitoes, the transmission cycle is broken or greatly weakened. The reason birds are tested for infection is to pinpoint the geographic distribution of the virus.

What You Can Do To Help :
· Eliminate all standing water on your property. Check at least once a week.
· Help your neighbors find and eliminate standing water.
· Become a volunteer mosquito aNILEator to help other County neighborhoods. Call the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, 240-777-2600 for more information.

To Reduce Mosquitoes, Eliminate Places Where They Can Breed:

Mosquitoes breed in standing and stagnant water. As little as a teaspoon or bottle cap of water standing for about a week is enough for hundreds of eggs to develop into adult mosquitoes. Prevent Standing Water:

· Throw away used tires. If you have a tire swing, drill holes in the bottom so that the water will run out.
· Fix dripping outdoor water faucets.
· Drain water trapped in folds and arrange tarps so that water runs off.
· Dispose of trash such as bottle caps, open drink cans or bottles, styrofoam cups, foil or plastic food wrappers.
· Turn over children's wading pools, buckets, wheelbarrows, canoes, and garbage can lids.
· Clean out roof gutters and down-spout screens.
· Get rid of puddles from window air conditioners.
· Flush birdbaths and saucers under potted plants at least once a week.

For more information on West Nile Virus and what you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your community please visit the County website at http://mosquito.askdep.com. To report a dead bird that have died of natural causes (not from injury such as flying into a window or attack from another animal) please call the State Hot Topics Line at 1-866-866-2769.