As residents spend more time participating in outdoor activities like swimming, picnics, hikes, and camping, it is important to prevent vector-borne diseases by reducing tick and mosquito bites.
“The Somerset County Department of Health is encouraging residents to be prepared for the buzz of summer by protecting themselves from mosquitoes and ticks,” said Commissioner Doug Singleterry, liaison to the Health Department, through a press release through Somerset County. “It’s important for everyone to protect against insects that can spread vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, dengue, Lyme disease, Powassan virus, and others.”
Being informed and reducing exposure to mosquitoes and ticks is the best defense against illness and disease. Fight the Bite this summer and take action to prevent mosquito and tick bites:
Before going outside:
- Wear an EPA-registered insect repellent with one of the active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone. Always follow instructions on the label. Children under 3 years old cannot use products containing OLE or PMD.
- Cover up with loose-fitting and light-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants.
- Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
- Walk in the center of trails and avoid areas with high bushes or grass.
- Talk to your vet about prevention products for your dog or cat and limit access to tick-infested areas.
After Coming Indoors:
- Check for ticks on yourself, clothing, kids and pets.
- Remove an attached tick as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. Thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Use the Tick Bite Bot to help remove attached ticks.
- Shower soon after spending time outside – wash off unattached ticks.
- Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, to kill ticks on dry clothing.
- See your doctor if you have any symptoms, such as a fever or a rash.
Around your Home:
- Make sure window and door screens are repaired. Use air conditioning when possible.
- Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or discard outdoor items that hold water, such as tires, trash containers, toys, flowerpots, pools, birdbaths, etc.
- Trim high bushes, grass, and plants to reduce hiding places for unwanted insects.
Residents planning to travel overseas should be prepared to protect themselves from mosquito bites during their trip because mosquitoes spread viruses and parasites that are not common in the United States, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Travel destination and activities may determine the measures needed to prevent mosquito bites during the trip. If they are planning to travel to an area where malaria is found, talk to their healthcare provider about malaria prevention medication. After returning from their trip, watch for symptoms and prevent mosquito bites for three weeks.
Individuals that develop symptoms within several weeks after removing a tick or if symptoms worsen after a mosquito bite, should follow up with their healthcare provider. Those who are immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system) can have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from viruses spread by mosquitoes and ticks. The treatment for tickborne disease is based on the person’s symptoms, history of exposure to ticks and in some cases, blood test results.
Remember the importance of prevention when spending time outdoors this summer and Fight the Bite! For more information about preventing mosquitoes and tick bites, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/fight-the-bite/index.html.
