Key points
- No licensed vaccines or medicines are available to prevent West Nile virus disease (West Nile) in people.
- The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from West Nile is to prevent mosquito bites.
- Community- and household-level mosquito control can help decrease the number of mosquitoes that could spread West Nile virus to people.
Prevent mosquito bites
West Nile virus is spread to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. No licensed vaccines or medicines are available to prevent West Nile in people.
The best way to protect yourself and loved ones from West Nile is to prevent mosquito bites.
- Use an insect repellent registered with the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Wear long, loose-fitting shirts and pants so it is harder for mosquitoes to bite your skin.
- Avoid being outside between dusk and dawn when the mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus are most active.
- Use screens on windows and doors or air conditioning, if available, to keep mosquitoes outside.
Keep Reading
Preventing mosquito bites
Mosquito control
Community-level control
If the number of mosquitoes in an area becomes too high or they are found to be infected with West Nile virus, mosquito control professionals may use products to kill mosquito larvae (larvicides) or adult mosquitoes (adulticides).
Household-level control
In addition to keeping mosquitoes outside the home, people can consider:
- Applying mosquito dunks or other larvicides to smaller areas with permanent standing water.
- Contacting a local mosquito control district or program or licensed professional with questions, concerns, or for information about using adulticides.
Learn more about controlling Culex mosquitoes.