(Distributed 09/05/08) Most of the mosquitoes being bred in the standing water left in Louisiana from Hurricane Gustav are not the kind that carry West Nile virus, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist and mosquito expert Wayne Kramer.

A poster containing information on how to protect yourself from mosquitoes.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis, or a brain infection. Mosquitoes acquire the virus from birds and pass it on to other birds, animals and people.

A document containing the Louisiana Pesticide Rules and Regulations.

Document containing the Louisiana Pesticide Law.

Links to additional Web sites that provide information on mosquitoes and West Nile Virus.

The LSU AgCenter is providing mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) to the New Orleans area in an effort to suppress mosquito populations in the many abandoned swimming pools in the city.

A document containing the Standard Conditions, Scientific Collecting (wild birds): 50 CFR 21.23 Conditions.

Because of the impact of mosquitoes in Louisiana on humans and domestic and wild animals, the negative effect on tourism and especially their potential as carriers of organisms that cause diseases, the first mosquito abatement districts were established in the early 1960s. Since then, with the help of the Louisiana Mosquito Control Association (LMCA) and the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (AgCenter) entomologists, several other parishes have established mosquito control programs

People who work or play outdoors are often attacked by numerous species of insects, ticks and mites. If you choose or are required to be outside when insects are active, use a repellent. This publication explains how repellents are chemical substances that protect people from insect attack by making the body unattractive or offensive to insects. A repellent does not have to kill insects to be effective, although it may.