Protecting yourself and your family from bug bites this summer is now more important than ever, as tick, flea, and mosquito infections have more than tripled between 2004 and 2016.
The alarm on the danger of bug bites was raised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as cases of associated diseases have surged to "astronomical levels."
Tick, Flea, And Mosquito Infections Getting Worse
According to the CDC, in a span of 13 years until 2016, infections from tick, flea, and mosquito bites have more than tripled in the United States with over 640,000 cases. The CDC added that over the same period, nine new germs from mosquito bites and tick bites have been discovered.
The CDC claimed that the United States is not fully prepared for the increasing health threat brought about by bug bites. As such, it may fall upon your responsibilities to make sure that your family is safe from diseases spread by ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes.
Here's How To Prevent Bug Bites
The CDC warned that diseases from bug bites usually get worse during the summer. This is because higher temperatures make mosquitoes more infectious and expand the range of ticks.
The first thing that you should do is to cover up as much skin as you can. Long-sleeved shirts should be tucked in, long pants should be tucked into socks, and go with closed-toe shoes. This may be tough when it is hot, but it is a must, especially when you absolutely have to go to places where there may be bugs around.
Another thing to prepare against bug bites this summer would be the all-important bug repellent sprays for the areas not covered by clothing. Some sprays only work against mosquitoes, while some also work against ticks, so you may have to read the labels carefully to make sure you are getting the correct kind. Babies at two months of age or younger should not use repellents, and children should not have repellents on their hands, near their eyes, or near their mouths. If also applying sunscreen, the repellents should be used after the sunscreen.
At the end of the day, coming from outside, make sure that you check your body and your clothes for any ticks that may be hitching a free ride. For ticks to transmit the Lyme disease virus, it needs to be attached to its victim for at least a day, which gives you time to check for any and remove them. If you find ticks, use tweezers to pull them off slowly. You should not twist the tweezers, as this may leave the mouth attached, and you should not squeeze the body, as that pushes liquid into the wound.
