What Can You do?
Be Smart
Protect your home from mosquitos by eliminating water deposits inside and outside your home. Even a tablespoon of water can serve as a mosquito breeding ground and produce hundreds of mosquitoes. Eliminate empty containers, bottles or garbage where water accumulates. Exercise indoors, mosquitos like the heat and carbon dioxide your body releases when you workout outside.
Check Before You Travel
Staying healthy should be at the top of your priorities. Check the CDC website for any warnings before traveling. There is an updated list of countries and territories that have active Zika virus transmission. Stay in air-conditioned areas, sleep under bed nets, use mosquito repellants and stay away from high risk areas.
Mosquito Repellant
Not all mosquito repellants are created equal and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend products with the active ingredient DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin, or IR 3535. Avoid non-registered repellents such as citronella oil, cedar oil, geranium oil, peppermint and peppermint oil, “pure” oil of lemon eucalyptus (essential oil not formulated as a repellent), and soybean oil.
Apply it Thoroughly
When using mosquito repellant it’s important to apply it thoroughly and after you’ve applied sunscreen. Don’t wear it under clothes and avoid spraying it on cuts or wounds. Spray all over your body, including your feet and ankles, which is where mosquitos often bite. Remember to reapply based on the product’s specifications.
Wear the Right Clothes
When traveling to a wooded area where you know there will be a lot of mosquitos or even if you’re spending a long time outside, make sure you wear long-sleeve shirts and pants. Yes, the weather may be hot, but the extra protection you get from your clothes, will keep you healthy. Clothes made with permethrin, a synthetic insecticide can offer extra protection. Skip the sandals and wear shoes with socks. Also, skip the yoga pants, since mosquitos can still bite you through spandex and opt for baggier clothes, which offer a better protection.
