Along with the arrival of spring in Iowa comes the renewed annoyance of mosquitoes and the risk of catching the potentially-deadly West Nile virus. Registered nurse Rhonda Theiler says Iowans can help prevent the spread of that disease by following a few familiar rules.
Theiler says use common sense and put on a bug repellent that includes DEET when you’re outside, especially around dawn and sunset. Also, she recommends dumping stagnant water, cleaning gutters and throwing out old tires and other things that could collect water, where mosquitoes breed. Last year, Iowa recorded 37 cases of West Nile virus, two that resulted in death.
Theiler says recovering from the virus isn’t like recovering from a cold. She says some people are still suffering from the lingering side effects of West Nile, as it can weaken peoples’ immune systems and increase their chances of acquiring the flu and other ailments.