Protect yourself from West Nile

Since the holiday weekend starts tomorrow I thought it might be a good time for a reminder about protecting yourself and your kids from West Nile Virus! At least one person in Boulder County has gotten West Nile this year so make sure you take proper precautions - wear bug spray containing DEET, dress in long sleeves and pants, avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, and drain standing water! For more information from the City of Longmont, see here: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/westnile/.

Mosquito spraying starts July 19th!

The City of Longmont has contracted to begin spraying for mosquitoes on Thursday, July 19th, beginning at 8:30 pm. Each and every street in the city is scheduled to be sprayed that night so you may want to take some precautions with your kids - don't let them play near the trucks or better yet keep them inside with the windows closed during and after the spraying! Their website says the fine mist is safe for humans but why breathe it if you don't have to? See http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/news/pr/2007/SprayingtoBegin.htm for more info.

Got bug spray?

Yikes! Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been found in Longmont. Protect yourself and your children by avoiding being outside during dusk/dawn hours, wearing long sleeves/pants and applying bug spray often. Check out this story from the Associated Press:

BOULDER (AP) - Nearly twice as many mosquitoes are carrying the virus that produces West Nile disease in the Longmont area this summer.

The number of mosquitoes with the disease is up 170 percent so far this summer and it looks like it's getting worse. This week's count is up 237 percent compared with the same week last July.

Boulder County health officials say infected insects can travel up to 20 miles so it's possible more diseased mosquitoes could start showing up in other areas.

Two human cases of the disease have been identified in the state, one in Logan County and the other in Cheyenne County.

Nationally, a total of 26 cases have been reported in 11 states. South Dakota leads the nation with seven.

(Copyright Associated Press, All Rights Reserved)