Mosquito Born Diseases Should Be On Your Mind This Summer!

Knowledge of Mosquito-borne Diseases Should Be On Your Mind This Summer!

Many people may connect the height of mosquito season — which occurs in the summer through early fall — to the irksomely itchy welts that accompany mosquito bites; but there are far worse associations to make with these blood-sucking pests — such as the health threats they pose to humans in their daily lives—even in their own backyards.

To help protect the community against mosquito-related health risks, we’re reminding the public about threatening mosquito-borne diseases as well as prevention tips to avoid bites.

THE GOOD NEWS is that, thanks to professional pest control, there are certain serious (and sometimes even deadly!) mosquito-transmitted illnesses, such as malaria, that we rarely see in the U.S. The public should remember, however, that there are still harmful diseases including the Zika, West Nile and Chikungunya viruses present in the U.S. All of these viruses can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. In order to protect against these health threats, knowledge about each disease and general mosquito prevention is key!

According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) the main ways to avoid mosquito bites and better protect against mosquito-transmitted diseases include:

• Applying insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon-eucalyptus or IR3535 when outdoors and use as directed on the product label. Apply repellent over top of sunscreen, and reapply every four to six hours.

• Minimizing outside activity between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, though it is important to note that mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya are active throughout the day.

• Wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes when outdoors.

• Eliminating areas of standing water around the home including clogged gutters, birdbaths, flower pots, tires and kiddie pools or untreated pools. Mosquitoes need only half an inch of water to breed.

• Screening windows and doors, and patching torn screens.

Of course, the BEST solution is prevention, courtesy of your local pest control professional!

For more information about how we can protect your home CONTACT US NOW!