There are no commercially available human vaccines for the prevention of West Nile virus. Prevention of arboviral diseases like West Nile virus centers around controlling exposure to mosquitoes and avoiding mosquito bites as well as public health measures to reduce the populations of infected mosquitoes.

These measures include:

• Reduce time outdoors, especially at dusk, during mosquito seasons

• Wear light weight long sleeves and long pants if you are outdoors

• If outdoors, apply insect repellent exposed skin or clothing that contains the active ingredient, DEET. (Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions)

• Maintain window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of buildings

• See the Homeowner Mosquito Control section for more detailed information. Drain standing water in the yard because they are potential mosquito breeding sites. Empty standing water from flower pot bases, pet bowls, clogged rain gutters, swimming pool covers, discarded tires, buckets, barrels, cans, etc.

Public health measures include:

• Monitoring - Surveillance and outreach programs to identify mosquito pools, birds, horses, and humans positive for West Nile virus.

• Education -  of health care providers, local municipal authorities, veterinarians, and Michigan's citizens about WNV.

• Mosquito control - Reduction of mosquito breeding sites and application of larvicides and insecticides to control mosquito larvae and adults.