The West Nile Virus is a virus that is carried by mosquitoes and picked up by humans through mosquito bites.
Symptoms may include vomiting, nausea, a depressed appetite, or diarrhea.
More serious cases can be accompanied by a waning level of consciousness that sometimes nears coma and the spinal cord can even become infected.
There are currently no vaccines to combat the virus and recovery is often marked by a long recuperation with extreme exhaustion.
The best way to not contract West Nile Virus is to take preventative measures to keep you and your family safe.
First, you must protect yourself (or should we say skin?) from mosquito bites.

Apply insect repellent liberally all over exposed skin.
Try using a repellent that contains DEET, a highly potent chemical that protects against insect bites.
Make sure you choose a repellent that will last the duration you remain outdoors (you may need to reapply).
Make sure you do not put repellant on the hands of small children, since they may irritate the eyes and mouth.

You should also spray repellant all over your skin; mosquitoes can and often will bite through thin material.

If the weather allows, wear long pants and long sleeves to reduce the amount of exposed skin.

If at all possible, consider staying indoors during peak mosquito hours which are generally during dawn and dusk.

If you are gardening, hunting, camping, or taking part in another outdoor activity, consider wearing a bug hat; a sturdy bucket hat that has mesh netting sewn into the brim.
The netting cinches at the bottom to protect your face and neck from insect bites.
If you have an infant, place similar netting over their carrier to keep bugs away from them.

You can also take other measures to help reduce the number of mosquitoes in and around your home; this will allow you to reduce the number of areas available in outdoor areas around your home for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and breed.

Check all your windows and repair any screens so mosquitoes can not get through rips or tears.

Once a week, empty all birdbaths, flower pots, buckets, pet dishes, etc.
and replace with fresh water.

Clean out clogged rain gutters.

Throw out any old items that can collect standing water such as old tires, cans, or buckets.