Much has been reported about the spread of the West Nile virus, including that dead birds infected with the virus have been found in Maine. The reports are scary, but not a lot has been published to help consumers understand what the West Nile virus is, how to protect against it, and what risks exist. So here are some West Nile basics from Consumer Forum and COMBAT.

The simple fact is that human illness from West Nile virus is rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported. The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a mosquito bite (the manner in which the virus is transmitted) is low. The easiest way to reduce your chances of becoming ill is by protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

Start by applying insect repellent containing DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) when you’re outdoors. Avoid applying repellent to children younger than 2 years old. Use care in applying repellent to small children, and don’t put repellent on their hands because it may get into their mouth or eyes and cause irritation.

Read and follow the product directions whenever you use insect repellent.

Wear long-sleeved clothes and long pants treated with repellent and stay indoors or inside screened enclosures during peak mosquito feeding hours (dusk until dawn) to further reduce your risk. Place commercially available mosquito repellent candles or lamps around areas where you are enjoying outside activities in the evening. Plug in the “bug zapper” and fry a few while you are at it.

Limit the number of places available for mosquitoes to lay their eggs by draining, filling or treating standing water areas around your home. Hardware, home improvement and retail stores often have pellets, sprays or granules that may be used on standing water to kill mosquito larvae.

Check to see if there is an organized mosquito control program in your town. If no program exists, work with your local government officials to establish such a program. The American Mosquito Control Association can provide advice, and its book “Organization for Mosquito Control” is a useful reference. Another source of information about pesticides and repellents is the National Pesticide Information Center, which also operates a toll-free information line: (800) 858-7378 (check Web site for hours).

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and can infect people, horses, many types of birds, and some other animals. Most people who become infected with West Nile virus will have either no symptoms or only mild ones. On rare occasions, West Nile virus infection can result in a severe and sometimes fatal illness known as West Nile encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain). The risk of severe disease is higher for persons 50 years old and older. There is no evidence to suggest that West Nile virus can be spread from person to person or from animal to person.

Dead birds in an area may mean that West Nile virus is circulating between the birds and the mosquitoes in that area. More than 110 species of birds are known to have been infected with the virus. Although birds, particularly crows and jays, infected with the virus can die or become ill, most infected birds do survive. The public can play an important role in monitoring West Nile virus by reporting dead birds (other than obvious road or cat kills) to state and local health departments.

Information, communication and organization are the keys to public safety and consumer action. To be a part of Maine’s consumer action network (Maine Center for the Public Interest), visit our Web site (www.consumerprotect.org) and sign up for our e-mailing list.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT/The Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. For help or to request individual or business membership information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.