When are outdoor workers at greatest risk of WNV exposure?
Outdoor workers are at risk of WNV exposure any time infected mosquitoes are biting. Most WNV infections occur from July through September. Many mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn. However, some are active during the day. If possible, avoid working outdoors during peak activity times for mosquitoes. When you must work at such times, pay special attention to the use of personal protection such as protective clothing and insect repellent to reduce the potential for exposure. Where are mosquitoes most commonly found? Mosquitoes develop in any standing body of water that persists for more than 4 days. Stagnant pools, ponds, watering troughs, irrigation ditches, rain barrels, manure lagoons, and other stagnant bodies of water increase mosquito populations. Weedy, bushy, and wooded work environments may also have mosquito populations. Emptying containers of stagnant water every 4 to 5 days or treating these breeding sites with larvicides can help to reduce mosquito populations.
