They're just bugs, right? While that's true, mosquitoes and ticks are two "bugs" that require some extra attention as the outdoor recreation season swings into high gear across the U.S.
State health officials nationwide are urging people to take some extra precautions against these pests when they head outdoors for fun in the sun activities.
Awareness remains a watchword, they explain, as mosquitoes carry illnesses such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, while ticks can carry illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
The bottom line here is this: Mosquito and tick-borne diseases can cause mild symptoms, severe infections requiring hospitalization, and in some cases, even lead to death.
In 2013 a total of 2,469 cases of West Nile virus, including 119 deaths, were reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S.
With regard to Lyme disease, the numbers are substantially more ominous. Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC by state health departments and the District of Columbia. However, the CDC explains Lyme disease numbers are more difficult to track as many cases go unreported so this number does not reflect every case of Lyme disease that occurs in the United States every year.
The CDC offers up some helpful tips on both tick removal and mosquito bite protection.
With regard to ticks, should you find a tick attached to your skin a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers will remove a tick quite effectively.
Their tips include: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible; Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal; After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
On the mosquito protection front, the CDC suggests use of only EPA-registered repellents and to look for products containing the following active ingredients as these typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection against the flying pests: DEET (chemical name: N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethyl-3-methyl-benzamide); Picaridin (KBR 3023 Bayrepel); Oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD (chemical name: para-menthane-3,8-diol); and IR3535 (chemical name: 3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester).
So polish up your label reading and tweezer skills and enjoy the summer - just be cautious.
