Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are on the rise. Vectors, like mosquitoes and ticks, can spread germs through bites. Ranges of ticks are expanding, putting more people at risk for tick bites. Sporadic mosquito-borne disease outbreaks are an ongoing public health concern. Bites from mosquitoes and ticks can make you sick! Mosquitoes and ticks can spread germs that cause diseases like West Nile and Lyme disease. You can Fight the Bite and learn how to protect yourself and loved ones from mosquito and tick bites.

Tips to Keep you, your Family, and your Pets Safe:  
Ticks

• Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails to prevent contact with ticks.
• Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active from April to September in the United States.
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
• After coming inside check your body for ticks after being outdoors.
  1. Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child's body for ticks:
  2. Under the arms
  3. In and around the ears
  4. Inside belly button
  5. Back of the knees
  6. In and around the hair
  7. Between the legs
  8. Around the waist 

• Remove an attached tick as soon as possible.
• Take a shower within 2 hours of coming indoors to help wash off unattached ticks and to check your body for ticks.
• Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing.
• Pets can get sick from germs spread by ticks. Vaccines are not available for most tickborne diseases that pets can get. Vaccines don’t keep pets from bringing ticks into your home. Protect your pets by learning how to prevent ticks on pets.

Talk to your veterinarian about:

1. The best tick prevention products for your pet
2. Tickborne diseases in your area
3. Note: Cats are extremely sensitive to a variety of chemicals. Do not apply any tick prevention products to your cats without first asking your veterinarian.

How to remove a tick

• Use clean, 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 cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
• After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
• Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.
• Note: Never use petroleum jelly or a hot match to kill and remove a tick. These methods don't get the tick off the skin, and can make it burrow deeper.

Follow-up

• If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor:
• Tell the doctor about your recent tick bite,
• When the bite occurred, and
• Where you most likely acquired the tick.

If the tick is removed from a child, call the doctor right away if your child has:

• a red-ringed rash or skin that's red and irritated
• flu-like symptoms
• joint pain or a swollen joint
• facial paralysis (can't move areas of the face)
• Other conditions can also cause these symptoms. But having your child seen early means that if it is Lyme disease, treatment can begin quickly. 

Mosquitos

• Mosquitoes live throughout the continental United States and U.S. territories. About 12 types of mosquitoes can spread germs through bites. Because you can't tell which mosquitoes could be spreading germs, take steps to protect yourself. Mosquitoes bite day and night.
• Everyone is at risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and ticks and getting sick from the germs they can spread. Certain groups of people are at higher risk for disease than others. Understand your risk of vector-borne diseases.
• Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. When used as directed, these repellents are proven safe and effective, even for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Wear loose-fitting, long clothing to protect yourself from mosquito and tick bites.
• Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin.

Around your home

• Use air conditioners and screens to keep mosquitoes from coming inside.
• Empty standing water. Mosquitoes lay eggs in or near water.
• Get more tips on how to control mosquitoes.

Tips for babies and children

• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
• When using insect repellent on your child
• Always follow label instructions.
• Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
• Do not apply repellent to a child's hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
• Adults: Apply repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child's face.

Tips for everyone

• Always follow the repellent product label instructions.
• Reapply repellent as directed.
• Do not apply repellent on the skin under clothing.
• If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

For more information on what you can do to Fight the Bite, click here.