Now is the time to prepare.

While April showers may bring May flowers, July showers are liable to bring mosquitos and West Nile Virus. Now is the time to begin preparing to implement the 4-Ds when the rains cease (may that not be for a while yet). While some cities may be able to spray and implement other mosquito control activities, like so much in life, action at the local level can be a great help. Anything each individual can do will help reduce the burden on the municipalities, and it is even more critical in the many areas without a mosquito control program in place. The 4Ds have become: Drain, Dress appropriately; Avoid being out at Dusk and Dawn and Defend yourself. Standing water in pots, buckets, old tires, etc. needs to be drained or emptied. Long sleeves and long pants should be worn during the dusk and dawn periods if one can’’t avoid being out then; Effective repellents need to be used liberally when the mosquitoes become active and if windows are opened, screens should be in good repair. After the West Nile Virus season last year, we can expect cases to occur, especially IF these self-defense steps are not employed. Please do your part to protect yourself, your family and your neighbors from a potentially devastating disease. We appreciate the rain but we must also prepare for the less desirable things that come with it. Sent by the: Regional Zoonosis Control Veterinarian Texas Department of State Health Services P.S. To protect your equines make sure that they have received their WNV vaccine.