proximately 2 hours. The CPT for a 24% DEET formulation is more than 4 hours.Fortunately, the USA has some of the best mosquito and arthropod control programs in the world. Vector control and personal protection against vectors and the diseases they carry are the best way to avoid infection with vector-borne pathogens. For example, strategies that might be effective against WN in NYC include: the source reduction of mosquito breeding sites; focal applications of insecticides directed against adult and immature mosquitoes; public service announcements to educated residents about the vector, the disease, and disease avoidance; tips to help prevent home-invasion by infected vectors; and information about the most effective means of personal protection. Recent SLE epidemics and outbreaks in Florida have proved that one of the most effective means of reducing human infection is to widely disseminate accurate information through the media in an effort to educate the public. An individual's first line of defense during a vector-borne disease emergency is knowledge and personal protection. The U. S. centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has initiated the National WN Virus Surveillance System for 2000 as a result of the WN virus introduction to North America. The objectives of this surveillance system are: To monitor the potential geographic and temporal spread of WN virus over the eastern and southern U. S. To further develop national public health strategies for WN virus surveillance. To develop a more complete regional picture of the geographic distribution and incidence of the other clinically important arboviruses in the eastern and southern U. S. To provide national and regional information to public health officials as well as the public. To evaluate the use of cooperative agreement funds and the need for additional resources. ADDITIONAL READING ANDERSON, J. F., et al. 1999. Isolatio...
