How to Prevent Mosquito Borne Disease

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By J H Kersey
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Prevent Mosquito Borne Disease

Summer is here and with it brings those pesky little critters that take great pleasure in turning a beautiful summer evening outdoors into slap and itch fest. Unfortunately they also bring several diseases including West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue fever and Malaria. The diseases that mosquito carry can cause serious illnesses and even death in people of any age, but children and people older than 50 are at the greatest risk for severe disease. Most people who become ill will have mild symptoms including headache, fever, dizziness and fatigue. This article provides tips for protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites including the “Five D’s” and ways eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Clothing that covers the skin
Mosquito repellent
Mosquito netting

Step 1

“Dust” to “Dawn”: Try to remain indoors when mosquitoes are the most active and seeking blood between dust and dawn.
Step 2

“Dress”: Wear clothing that covers your skin so that mosquitoes have fewer places land and bite.
Step 3

“DEET”: Use a repellent containing up to 30 percent DEET. Other repellents include picardin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the label for approved usage to ensure the repellent is appropriate. Do no use DEET with children younger than 2 months old. Also do not apply repellent to a child’s hands. Adults should apply repellent to their own hands and then transfer it the child’s skin.
Step 4

“Drainage”: Check around your home and remove standing water. Mosquitoes lay there eggs in old tires, buckets, garbage cans, potted plants and other containers such as bird baths and even clogged gutters and flat roofs that do not drain properly. Basically anywhere water collects.

Tips & Warnings

There are a number of natural repellents such as lavender. Also citronella candles and a new product by Off that distributes repellent with a small fan for individual protection are useful in keeping mosquitoes away.
Infants should be kept indoors and mosquito netting should be used over carriers when they are outside during mosquitoes most active times.