Some mosquitoes found in Philadelphia can spread West Nile virus, while deer ticks can spread Lyme disease. Peak season for these bugs is April through October. Both illnesses can result in long-term health problems and a severe case of West Nile virus can be fatal.
Anyone who works or spends a lot of time outdoors is more likely to get bites that cause these illnesses. Adults 50 years of age and older and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.
Preventing mosquito and tick bites is the best way to protect you and your family from West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and other infections transmitted by these bugs.
How
Preventing mosquito bites
- When you are outdoors, use an insect repellent that has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Be sure to follow the directions on the package. Find out more about the active ingredients in EPA-registered repellents.
- Spray clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent. Don’t apply this type of repellent to your skin or under clothing. Consider keeping a set of treated clothes for outdoor activities.
- Avoid being outdoors during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. If you are outdoors during this time, wear long sleeves and pants and use insect repellent.
- Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
- Prevent mosquitoes from breeding by emptying anything that contains standing water, such as flowerpots, buckets, and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in birdbaths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
Learn more about preventing mosquito bites.
Preventing tick bites
- When you are outdoors, use an insect repellent that has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Be sure to follow the directions on the package. Find out more about the active ingredients in EPA-registered repellents.
- Treating clothing with permethrin. Be sure to follow the directions on the package.
- Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of park trails.
- Shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours).
- Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body.
- Remove attached ticks as soon as possible.
- Examine clothes and gear and tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
- Check your pets, since they can bring ticks into your home. Talk with your vet about using a product to prevent ticks on your dog.
Learn more about preventing tick bites.
Don’t delay
Anyone with symptoms of severe West Nile virus—fever, headache, neck stiffness, and/or confusion—should seek medical care right away. Visit your doctor if you experience a fever or rash. For Lyme disease, early treatment with antibiotics can prevent ongoing health problems.