Moquito/Ticks
In spring, summer, and early fall mosquitoes and ticks can be a nuisance but they can also carry diseases such as West Nile Virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme’s Disease. You can help protect yourself against potential disease by knowing what to do to avoid these pests.
How To Protect Yourself
Wear Insect Repellant
Since mosquitoes and ticks can be active any time of the day or night, it is a good idea to wear insect repellant whenever you are going to be outside. The Centers for Disease Control has recommended several EPA Registered insect repellants that are effective against these pests. Some of the more common active ingredients are DEET and Picaridin.
Ticks are typically “hitchhikers” and can grab onto skin or clothing of persons as they pass by their resting locations. Permethrin, an insecticide that can be applied to clothing, can also be effective in preventing ticks from attaching. Permethrin should not be applied directly to the skin.
Mosquitoes need water to breed and develop. Most people think that it takes lots of standing water for mosquitoes to become a problem but in reality some types of mosquitoes, including those that can cause disease, can breed in even small amounts of standing water. Therefore homeowners should be proactive by making an effort to identify and eliminate standing water around their home and yards even in areas you might not think of such as:
- clogged gutters
- low spots on tarps and swimming pool covers
- old tires in the back yard
- children’s toys
- flower pots
Resources
More Information
For more information on specific vector borne diseases and how to protect your home, pets and family from illnesses contact the Oldham County Health Department between 8:00 am and 11:00 Monday through Friday. For areas where you can’t eliminate the standing water such as in ornamental ponds, ditch lines etc., there are various products now available at large department stores, hardware, pet stores and home, garden and pond centers that will inhibit mosquito breeding. Click the button below to call and contact us, or dial 502-222-3516.
