Like an annual Methuselah,
West Nile Virus is again rearing its ugly head. It is transmitted by mosquitos. Hungry Mosquitos, hoards of them just waiting for that unsuspecting person or animal that is anywhere near their path around dusk or dawn.According to Center for Disease Control West Nile Virus has been plaguing Africa (where it was first ?Discovered? in Uganda in 1937). It has been reported in Middle East; west and central Asia; Oceania; Europe, and starting in 1999 North America. It has been reported in virtually every state throughout East Coast and Mid-Western United States. Soon it will also hit West Coast. It is a threat to public, equine, and animal health. The most serious risk in humans and horses when infected is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of brain). Death also happens to infected domestic and wild birds.
If you live in an area where they have discovered West Nile Virus activity, you are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; persons older than 50 years have highest risk of severe disease.
West Nile Virus is spread exclusively thru bites by mosquitos, though some ticks have been discovered carrying West Nile Virus in their blood. However, now it is not believed that ticks pose any risk of infection.
So How do you avoid getting West Nile Virus? The obvious answer is to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito. You can curtail all outdoor activity around dawn and dusk. No more jogging in park, barbequing dinner, late evening softball, etc. So you can hide inside and become a shut in out of fear. You can coat yourself with chemical insect repellants, or you can look for natural methods.
Most methods of avoiding mosquito bites are using hazardous, noxious and harsh chemicals. Still, there is an all natural inexpensive way to ward off mosquitos and avoid getting bitten. In researching my ebook, ?Vinegar Magic? http://www.vinegarmagic.com one of many uses of vinegar I heard of was using apple cider vinegar to stop mosquitos from attacking. I didn?t believe it, so I tried it on myself. Every day for a week I drank two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 8 ounces of water. Let me tell you, I noticed a difference. I can be outside barbequing at dusk. I?ll see a mosquito making a bee line at me. It gets close and then suddenly, as if by magic it makes a U-turn and flies away. It?s like I have a magic protective shield around me.
