Most people have been bitten by a mosquito at some point in their lives. And while they may not think of them as more than an itchy nuisance, preventing these bites — and the diseases associated with them — is increasingly critical.
Reports suggest climate change is making it easier for mosquito populations to survive, and the more mosquitos there are, the more likely people are to contract a mosquito-borne illness.
One such illness, West Nile Virus, is spread by mosquitoes who feed on infected birds, and it has no vaccines or medicines to prevent or treat it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s why preventing mosquito bites in the first place is key, especially during peak season, which is summer through fall.
The CDC offers the following tips to prevent mosquito bites:
- Apply insect repellents. Opt specifically for those that are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The CDC recommends using repellents with one of these five active ingredients that the EPA has determined safely and effectively prevents bug bites: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone.
- Be strategic with your clothing. In particular, choose clothing that is loose-fitting. Also, wear pants and long sleeves. Finally, consider clothing and gear treated with permethrin, which is an insecticide that can repel and kill mosquitoes.
- Don’t forget: Mosquitoes can be hard to avoid. Control for them during the day and at night, as well as indoors and out.
What’s more, be aware of the signs and symptoms of West Nile Virus. These include fever, body aches and headache, rash, and gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting. However, most of the time, people who are infected don’t get sick. Only 1 in 5 becomes symptomatic, and about 1 in 150 who are infected develop severe illness that may lead to death.
So far in 2024, 38 U.S. states have reported 377 human cases of West Nile Virus. Texas, Nebraska, Mississippi, and California are the states with the most cases. Be vigilant for mosquitoes in your hometown, and take steps to keep bites at bay.
