Preventing Insect Bites: A Key Strategy to Disease Prevention
Bugs such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and flies can transmit diseases like malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme disease. While some cases may be mild, these illnesses can be severe and have enduring consequences. Some diseases caused by insect bites can be avoided through vaccines or medications, such as yellow fever and malaria. However, others, like Zika and Lyme disease, cannot be prevented through such means. Therefore, preventing bites is a key factor in our defense in fighting these disease processes. In this blog, we will outline the measures you can take to steer clear of insect bites.
Assess Your Destination:
Your choice of destination and planned activities can dictate the precautions needed to shield yourself from insect bites. Also, consider the time of year in which you may be visiting a specific location as the seasons can affect your bite risk as well. Consult the CDC Destinations pages to determine which vaccines or medications are recommended, as well as any prevalent diseases or health hazards at your chosen location.
Activities That Heighten Insect Bite Risk:
Certain activities increase the likelihood of insect bites. Engaging in activities like hiking, camping, working with animals, or visiting farms and wooded areas can elevate your chances of encountering insects that bite. Keep in mind, standing water and low wind are two variables that will help determine bite risk on a certain day.
Common Insects and the Diseases They Transmit
Mosquitoes are found in an abundance across much of the globe. There are over 3,500 species of mosquito on Earth and they are found on every continent except Antarctica. They are capable of transmitting many diseases. Below are listed a few of the more common diseases transmitted by mosquito:
- Chikungunya
- Dengue
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Malaria
- Murray Valley Encephalitis virus
- Rift Valley Fever
- Ross River virus disease
- West Nile virus
- Yellow Fever
- Zika
Tick Borne Diseases:
Lyme disease
babesiosis
ehrlichiosis
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
anaplasmosis
Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness
Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever
Tularemia.
Take Precautions Against Insect Bites During Your Trip: Utilize an EPA-registered insect repellent.
Insect Repellent: Utilize insect repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) containing one of the following active ingredients. When used according to instructions, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven to be safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals. If also using sunscreen, always apply the insect repellent after sunscreen.
- DEET
- Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone Identify the suitable insect repellent for your needs using the EPA's search tool.
Insect Repellent Tips for Babies and Children
- Dress your child in clothing that covers their arms and legs.
- Shield strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
- When applying insect repellent to your child, always adhere to the label instructions.
- Avoid using products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
- Refrain from applying insect repellent to a child's hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
- For adults, spray insect repellent onto your hands before applying it to a child's face.
- If using sunscreen, apply insect repellent after sunscreen.
The clothing on your body can provide a key layer of protection against mosquitoes:
Apply 0.5% permethrin to treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks, and tents, or purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Permethrin is an insecticide effective at repelling or killing insects like mosquitoes and sand flies. Permethrin-treated clothing maintains protection even after multiple washes. Follow the product instructions if treating items yourself. Do not apply permethrin products directly to the skin.
Keep Insects Out of Your Accommodations
Select accommodations with air conditioning or equipped with window and door screens. Utilize a mosquito net if staying in a location without air conditioning, screens, or if sleeping outdoors. The development and scale up of these nets are responsible for 68% of the malaria cases prevented in Africa since 2000, contributing to global efforts that saved more than 7 million lives and prevented more than 1 billion malaria cases. Sleep under a mosquito net if you are outdoors or when screened rooms are unavailable. Mosquitoes can be present indoors and bite during both day and night. Procure a mosquito net from a local outdoor store or online before traveling abroad. Choose a mosquito net that is compact, white, rectangular, has 156 holes per square inch, and is long enough to be tucked beneath the mattress. Permethrin-treated mosquito nets offer superior protection compared to untreated ones. If bitten by mosquitoes, resist the urge to scratch and apply either topical steroid cream or over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to alleviate itching.
Additional Measures to Prevent or Promptly Detect Tick Bites
Preventing Tick Bites
Familiarize yourself with tick-prone areas. The annual number of tickborne disease cases has more than doubled in the U.S. in the past two decades. There are several potential reasons for this, including growing tick populations, rising heat and humidity that help ticks thrive in more places for longer periods, and improved tracking of these diseases. Ticks inhabit grassy, bushy, or wooded environments, as well as animals. Activities like camping, gardening, or hunting outdoors can put you in close contact with ticks, even in your own yard or neighborhood. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, and camping equipment, maintaining effectiveness through multiple washes. Alternatively, you can purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Employ EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA's useful search tool can assist in finding the most suitable product. Refrain from using OLE or PMD products on children under 3 years old.
How to Avoid Contact with Ticks
Steer clear of wooded and brushy areas with tall grass and leaf litter. Stick to the center of trails.
Find and Remove Ticks
Inspect your clothing for ticks, which may be carried indoors on clothing. Any discovered ticks should be removed. To remove, 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 possible, tumble dry clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to eliminate ticks from dry clothing once you return indoors. Damp clothes may require additional time. If clothes need washing first, opt for hot water as cold or moderate temperatures will not kill ticks. Examine pets and gear. Ticks can hitch a ride on clothing and pets, later attaching to a person. Conduct thorough checks on pets, coats, and daypacks. Shower shortly after outdoor activities. Showering within two hours of returning indoors has been shown to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. Showering can help wash off unattached ticks and provides an opportunity for a tick inspection. Conduct a comprehensive body check after returning from areas potentially infested with ticks. Employ a hand-held or full-length mirror to inspect all body parts. Examine the following areas for ticks:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside the belly button
- Behind the knees
- In and around the hair
- Between the legs
- Around the waist If you locate a tick attached to your skin, promptly remove it.
Primary prevention and being fastious with all the above mentioned bite prevention strategies is key in the fight against Mosquito and tick borne illnesses. Please take these quick and easy steps to help prevent exposure risk.