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West Nile Virus Prevention Tips


Personal Protection To "Fight The Bite"
Avoiding mosquito bites is the only method available to steer clear of West Nile virus infection.  Stay indoors especially at dawn and dusk when it's prime mosquito feeding time.  If you need to be outside between dusk and dawn, wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.  Also, you should use a mosquito repellent with a 30%-35% or less solution of DEET to "Fight the Bite."  2 month-12 year olds should use a up to 10% DEET solution (avoiding their mouths, eyes, and hands).  Visit the CDC website or talk with your doctor for information on applying DEET to infants.

Know The Enemy
The two most likely vectors (disease carriers) of West Nile virus in Utah are Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens.

Culex tarsalis

Culex tarsalis prefers biting birds in the spring and large mammals (including humans) as the summer progresses, making it a particularly dangerous vector. The Culex tarsalis only bites at dawn and dusk. The Mosquito Abatement District-Davis spends most of its time battling these mosquitoes along the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake and other large bodies of permanent and semi-permanent water. Since Culex tarsalis can fly several miles, they are within range of homes within Davis County located far from the mosquitoes' breeding sites. Correctly using a DEET-based repellent works in avoiding bites from this as well as other types of mosquitoes living in Utah.

Culex pipiens

Combating Culex pipiens begins at your home.  Commonly known as the house mosquito, Culex pipiens breed in rain gutters, garbage cans, discarded tires, ornamental pools, etc.  This mosquito likes "yard junk" just as much as it likes yard decorations, and sprinkler water as much as rain.  It lives almost exclusively around houses, preferring to sneak inside, buzz about, and bite at night.  Remember, mosquitoes are tirelessly persistent.  If you have standing water somewhere on your property, Culex pipiens will likely find it.

Preventing Mosquito Breeding Sites Near Your Home
Eliminate standing water:
  • Drill holes in or discard old tires
  • Cap hollow, open fence posts
  • Clear leaves and debris from rain gutters and downspouts
  • Clear grass clippings and gravel from street gutters
  • Drain water from yard decorations
  • Turn unused containers upside down. Wading pools, buckets, cans, barrels, scrap metal, and "yard junk" are Culex pipiens' favorites.
Prevent standing water from becoming a breeding place:
  • Change birdbath water twice every week
  • Change trough water or contact Mosquito Abatement District-Davis for products that can be used in potable water
  • Pour excess water from plant pots weekly
  • Examine these places after rain and watering
  • Ornamental ponds are a major source for the WNV carrying house mosquito, Culex pipiens.  Call Mosquito Abatement District-Davis at 544-3736 and ask for tiny, mosquito-larvae eating fish.  (There is no additional cost for this service to Davis County residents.)
Contact Information

Physical Address
50 E State Street
Farmington, Utah 84025
For a map, click here.

Mailing Address
Davis County Health Department
P.O. Box 618
Farmington, Utah 84025

Phone Number
(801) 451-3661

Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except legal holidays)

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