 To help reduce your risk of getting West Nile virus, the health department recommends the following protective measures. Use insect repellent that contains DEET. Limit your outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when possible. And eliminate standing water around homes. Example, buckets, flower pots, mold tires, maybe wading pools, and bird baths.