Mosquito-borne diseases on the rise: Here’s how to protect yourself: Vaccination

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance: recent news headlines remind us that they can also be a serious health problem.

Cases of rare but potentially deadly Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have led to the closure of several parks in New England and one death in New Hampshire, while Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease expert, is recovering from West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne disease.

Researchers say rising temperatures and other factors are causing an increase in mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, Latin America and Europe. While West Nile virus remains the most common in the United States, many other mosquito-borne diseases are of concern, including Zika, malaria and dengue fever.

“Luckily for humans, we can prevent many diseases in similar ways,” says Dr. Angele-Désirée Laveau, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Stanford University and an epidemiologist who specializes in vector-borne diseases.

Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself from potentially infectious mosquito bites.

cover up

Mosquitoes can’t spread the virus without biting you, which means you should avoid being outdoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. If you are outside during these times, it’s important to cover up with long pants and long sleeves to limit exposed skin for mosquito bites, says Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the Baylor College of Medicine School of Tropical Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Despite living on the Gulf Coast, where summers can be scorching hot, Hotez said she makes sure to cover up fully when she goes outside in the mornings and evenings.

“The thing is, I wear a long-sleeved hoodie, sweatpants, socks, sneakers, and a hat. And of course, everyone looks at me like I’m a weirdo because it’s so hot and everyone else is wearing shorts.” But it’s helping him avoid getting stung.

Use insect repellent

Hotez said he also applies repellent to exposed areas such as the backs and palms of his hands, neck and sides of his face.

The CDC recommends using Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents, such as DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535.

According to the CDC, lemon eucalyptus oil and paramenthanediol (PMD) may also be effective, but should not be used on children under 3 years of age.

You can also apply an insect repellent called permethrin to your clothes, but be careful not to get it on your skin. Permethrin is also toxic to cats, so cat owners should be careful when spraying. The CDC has a video on how to properly use permethrin.

Don’t forget to protect your children too.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that children use insect repellent whenever they are in areas where insect bites are a concern.

Though some parents are wary, the AAP says it’s safe to use DEET on children, as long as you use a product that contains 30% or less DEET and apply it to children only once a day.

The pediatrics group recommends using insect repellents in stick, lotion or non-pressurized spray form for children and avoiding products that combine insect repellent and sunscreen.

Don’t spray directly on a child’s face. Instead, the AAP recommends putting the repellent on your hands and then rubbing it on your child’s face. And don’t put repellent on your child’s hands, because young children tend to put their hands in their mouths and eyes.

As with adults, children can be made to wear long pants and long sleeves to reduce the amount of repellent they need. The CDC also recommends using mosquito netting to cover babies in strollers and baby carriers.

Mosquito nets are also useful for adults, especially when sleeping outdoors.

Check the screen and remove any accumulated water.

Mosquitoes love to breed in standing water, so it’s important to make sure you empty any containers that may attract mosquitoes, like empty flower pots or children’s toy buckets, Laveau and Hotez say.

This applies indoors too, especially if you leave the door open for a while to let your dog out, Hotez says. Also, be sure to check your window and door screens for holes or scratches that can let mosquitoes in.

Call a mosquito control company

Labeau said if you have a lot of mosquitoes on your property and you don’t know where they’re coming from, you can call your local mosquito control district, who will come out and investigate and help you solve the problem.

Laveau welcomes the recent attention to preventing mosquito bites because, as she points out, “mosquitoes are not always harmless,” and they kill more people than any other creature in the world.

Still, she doesn’t want people to be scared, saying she wants them to take precautions and “be aware that there may be health implications.”

This story was edited by Jane Greenhalgh