If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you’re likely to encounter biting bugs like mosquitoes and ticks. While most bug bites are harmless, some can carry diseases like West Nile virus disease and Lyme disease.
Mosquitoes are small flying insects that spread disease through their bites by sucking blood and secreting saliva into your bloodstream. Ticks, on the other hand, are parasites that feed on hosts by biting them and infecting humans and animals with bacteria, viruses, and protozoans.
To protect yourself from mosquito bites, follow these tips:
– Remove standing water around your property to prevent mosquito habitats.
– Wear protective clothes like long-sleeved shirts and pants, and close windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
– Use insect repellent containing DEET or other EPA-registered active ingredients when outdoors for extended periods.
For tick-borne diseases, follow these precautions:
– Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to cover your skin.
– Apply insect repellent with at least 20% DEET on exposed skin and clothing.
– Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase pre-treated gear that kills ticks on contact.
When returning from the outdoors, remove shoes outside, check clothes and gear for ticks, and shower as soon as possible. Regularly mowing your lawn and checking areas with tall grass can also help reduce tick populations.
Protecting yourself from mosquito and tick bites is essential to prevent diseases like West Nile virus disease, Lyme disease, and others. For comprehensive information on prevention tips and guidelines, visit CDC.gov.
Source: https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4190601/prevent-mosquito-tick-bites