Be mindful of mosquitoes after a wet summer

San Antonio has experienced significant rainfall this summer. While the city's traditional weather patterns have returned, the rain left behind conditions ripe for increased numbers of insects, including mosquitoes. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District advises residents to remember the "Four D's" for the best defense against exposure to mosquitoes.

DUSK/DAWN are the times of day you should try to stay indoors. This is when infected mosquitoes are most active.

DRESS in long sleeves and pants when you're outside for extra protection; you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent.

DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is an ingredient to look for in your insect repellent. Follow label instructions, and always wear repellent when outdoors.

DRAIN standing water in your yard and neighborhood - old tires, flowerpots, and clogged rain gutters. These are mosquito breeding sites.

Severe cases of West Nile Virus from mosquito bites can have long term effects both physically and neurologically. The symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. Only about one out of 150 people infected with West Nile Virus will develop this more severe form of the disease.

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