PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES

Some Mosquitos will Overwinter in the form of larva or eggs.  But make no mistake come springtime, they will complete their stages to adulthood and emerge.  So start your mosquito prevention in the spring!

Although mosquitoes are usually a nuisance and sometimes dangerous to public health, most specialists agree that eradication is unrealistic. A more reasonable goal is population reduction and management below problem levels. This goal relies greatly on public education and awareness.

Mosquito bites can cause you to get sick. Mosquito-borne diseases are spread from mosquito to human by the bite of an infected mosquito. These diseases include the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria.  Visit The CDC Mosquito Page

Public health concerns 

Mosquito-borne illnesses have plagued humans throughout history. Modern vector control and monitoring programs have greatly reduced the incidence of yellow fever, malaria, and encephalitis viruses.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), and West Nile encephalitis (WNE) remain significant diseases that have recently afflicted people in New York. Management includes intense surveillance for mosquito outbreaks and routine monitoring for diseases.

CDC recommends a variety of safe and effective repellents for you and your family. There are those that can protect you for a short while in the backyard or a long while in the woods.

Look for these active ingredients recommended by CDC and EPA:

• DEET
• picaridin
• IR3535
• plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone

What you need to know

There are steps you can take to help prevent mosquito-borne virus infection.

1. Apply insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing when you go outdoors. Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent. Permethrin sprayed on clothing provides protection through several washes. Don’t spray repellent on the skin under clothing and don’t use permethrin on skin.
2. Cover up! Wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants and socks while outdoors to prevent mosquito bites. Clothing with a tighter weave is best at protecting you: denim, corduroy, polyester...
3. Avoid mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn. Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors during these hours. If you are outside, be sure to wear repellent and protective clothing.
4. Support your local community mosquito control programs. Mosquito control activities are most often handled at the local level, such as through county or city government. The type of mosquito control methods used by a program depends on the time of year, the type of mosquitoes to be controlled, and the habitats where the mosquitoes live. Methods can include eliminating mosquito larval habitats, applying insecticides to kill mosquito larvae, or spraying insecticides from trucks or aircraft to kill adult mosquitoes. Your local mosquito control program can provide information about the type of products being used in your area. Check with your local health department for more information.

Last updated September 13, 2021