DEAR WORRIED: Older adults over 50 should be especially concerned about West Nile Virus because they are among the most potentially at-risk population and are more likely to develop serious symptoms if they become infected. Obviously the healthier and more physically fit you are, the better able you are to combat West Nile or any other virus - that’s a "no-brainer" - but what can you do to prevent it in the first place?

The West Nile virus is a bird virus that is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. Not everyone who becomes infected with West Nile virus will develop serious illness - in fact four out of five people who are infected will not show any symptoms at all - but symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. In other words, you don’t want to get it! Sometimes these symptoms can last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. Even otherwise healthy people with West Nile virus can be sick for several weeks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), California has the dubious distinction of being the "leader" among West Nile cases affecting humans with 234 cases reported already in 2005 - almost 5 times more than second-place Louisiana with just 52 - and almost 150 horses and 1,300 birds have already tested positive for the disease this year. All but 9 states have reported cases of West Nile virus in one form or another.

What to do? The CDC advises that West Nile virus activity peaks in August and September so make sure you're protected whenever you go outdoors and remember to:

Use Mosquito Repellent (Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.)

Make yourself less vulnerable by not going outdoors during "peak" hours if at all possible. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes.

Wear long sleeves, long pants or slacks, and long socks when outdoors if weather permits.

Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites - check for standing water around your house or apartment such as bird baths, flower pots, drainage ditches etc.

Install or Repair Screens - even the smallest tear can create an opportunity for the tiny mosquito.

Support Community-Based Mosquito Control Programs.

If you are sensitive to commercial insect repellents or hesitant to use them on your skin, my personal recommendation is to try Neem oil. Haven’t heard of it? I’m not surprised. Neem oil is extracted from the seed of the Neem Tree - an ancient tree indigenous to India - and has been used for thousands of years as an insect repellent. It is entirely natural and amazingly effective in repelling insects for both humans and animals (yes, you can even bathe Fido in it). I often work outside on my small acreage in California where I am regularly exposed to mosquitoes, gnats, and other biting insects. Recently I applied some Neem lotion before cutting brush on the "back forty." It was a hot day, and within minutes a noticed a cloud of gnats heading toward me. "Uh, oh," I thought. But, to my surprise, the gnats turned around immediately upon sensing the Neem, and headed the opposite direction. I continued working for several hours without a single bite and have continued to use the Neem lotion whenever I am working outside. It definitely made me a believer.

In fact, concentrated Neem extract mixed with a gallon of water and a little bit of dishwashing detergent and sprayed on your plants will even keep insect pests from dining on your favorite flowers. Apparently they don’t like the taste and, while it does not immediately kill them like many pesticides (which can be harmful to you too), it disrupts their reproductive system to reduce the long-term insect population. Surprisingly, it has no adverse affect on beneficial insects such as earthworms, honey bees, lady bugs, etc. - only the "bad" insects.

Neem America is, perhaps, the foremost source of quality Neem products in the U.S. Their website (www.neemamerica.org) includes a wealth of information about the many health benefits of Neem oil with extensive supportive documentation from decades of research and clinical trials. The Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Diego is now using Neem oil from Neem America as part of its insect control strategy . For further information about using Neem oil as an effective insect repellant and West Nile virus deterrent, call 858-231-3142 or contact Carl Ling of California Soil Solutions at 1-800-507-2526 for advice on how to use it on your plants. This "time-tested" natural solution to repelling insects might afford you the extra protection you need against West Nile virus.