Prevent mosquito and tick bites this summer, reduce Zika virus and Lyme disease risk

Protecting yourself against mosquito and tick bites this summer is important in order to reduce your risk of contracting Zika virus and Lyme disease. Both Zika virus and Lyme disease are on the rise, and although there haven’t been any locally transmitted Zika virus cases, the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses still exists.

Here are some tips to help reduce your risk of tick-borne and mosquito-transmitted infections.

• Reduce opportunities for mosquito breeding by emptying still water on a weekly basis.
• Tightly secure all screens and openings on rain barrels used for water conservation.
• Clean up any trash or leaves that may be around the home or in rain gutters.
• Avoid tick habitats including wooded, grassy, and bushy areas.
• Use a tick and mosquito repellent on exposed skin and wear repellent-treated clothing.
• If you find a tick on your body, carefully remove it with a fine tip tweezer.
• Reduce tick habitat by frequently mowing grass and clearing your lawn of old furniture.
• Mosquito-proof your home by installing and repairing screens on the doors and windows and using air conditioning.

Mosquito-borne and tick-borne illnesses can be life-threatening to some and can cause some serious health complications. Doing your part to reduce the risk can keep you healthy and ensure you enjoy the summer.

Mosquito and tick bites: Precaution tips for families

Avoidance is your number one defense against tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses. Avoiding areas where ticks are found or where mosquito breed immediately reduces your risk of any bites. These areas included grassy, wooded areas, still water, and the nighttime hours.

Physical precautions to better protect yourself and your family include using a mesh netting over strollers and carriages, wearing long loose-fitting clothing, wearing light-colored clothing to not only deter insects, but to spot them more easily when they are on you, and conducting regular inspections of the body for any ticks that may have latched on. If you find a tick, remove it gently, and bring it to your doctor for inspection.

The longer a tick is on you, the higher the risk for Lyme disease is, so constant inspection is your best defense for lowering your risk of contracting the infection.

By following these tips, you can have a better success in reducing your risk of contracting a tick- or mosquito-borne illness.

Related Reading:

Zika virus development slowed by experimental hepatitis C antiviral drug: Study

Zika virus development can be slowed down by experimental hepatitis C antiviral drug. Professor Johan Neyts explained, “The Zika virus is transmitted by the tiger mosquito. Roughly twenty percent of the people who are infected actually get sick. Continue reading…

Lyme disease can be detected early by urine test: New study

Lyme disease can be detected early on by a urine test, as suggested by a new study. The findings come from researchers at George Mason University who have developed a urine test to detect Lyme disease early on. Continue reading…

Sources:
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/05/28/fight-the-bite-this-memorial-day-weekend-how-to-prevent-mosquito-and-tick-bites/
http://www.cps.ca/documents/position/preventing-mosquito-and-tick-bites