West Nile Virus is a virus that can cause serious illness and even death.

Each year, more and more people contract this virus, which is spread by Mosquito bites. The symptoms are flu-like, so if you contract flu symptoms during the mid to late summer or early fall, see your doctor. A few things you can do as a pond owner is to keep a few gambusia (see 'mosquito fish') stocked in your pond. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant or standing water, so don't worry if there is a lot of turbulence in your pond.
Bird baths, Buckets, or anywhere water collects is the breeding ground for Mosquitoes, so your pondless neighbor is just as likely as you to be host to mosquito breeding. To help prevent you and your family from contracting this illness, remember to wear long sleeves and pants from dusk to dawn, use a repellent that contains DEET, and keep those screens on your windows!