There are many simple things you can do to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
- Use an effective mosquito repellent, containing either picaridin or DEET, on all exposed skin.
- Wear loose fitting clothes that cover your skin.
- Try to limit outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are about (usually dusk and dawn).
- Take action to prevent mosquito breeding around your home.
1. West Nile
If you get a bite from a mosquito that’s carrying this virus, you probably won’t have any symptoms. Some people, though, get fever, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or a rash. You need to watch out for rare complications, like the brain infections called encephalitis or meningitis. There’s no vaccine for the disease, which shows up in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.
2. Dengue
CDC: Dengue fever is primarily a tropical disease and rarely occurs within the continental United States. Small outbreaks have occurred in the past in states such as Florida, Hawaii, and Texas.
3. Malaria
Malaria is a mosquitoborne disease caused by a parasite. It is found in many countries, including sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, as well as Central and South America. Malaria is a serious illness and may be deadly but prevention methods are available. Most cases of malaria in the United States occur in travelers and immigrants.
4. Chikungunya
CDC: Chikungunya virus is primarily found in Africa and Asia yet was found in 2013 for the first time in the Western Hemisphere.
5. Yellow Fever
CDC: Yellow fever virus is a rare tropical illness in Minnesota travelers with vaccination being one of the most important steps in prevention.
6. Zika Virus
Zika virus is a concern in many parts of the world. While most people who become infected with Zika virus have mild symptoms or no illness at all, the virus has been linked to serious health conditions, including Zika congenital syndrome in babies.
6. La Crosse Encephalitis
There are about 65 cases of this virus each year in the U.S. The mosquitoes that carry it bite during the day, usually in the spring through early fall. They live in wooded areas in the upper Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. If you get sick, you might get a fever, nausea, and headache, and severe cases can cause nervous system changes. But many people don’t notice any symptoms.
How to avoid mosquito bites
There are many simple things you can do to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, including:
- Wear long, loose-fitting clothes if mosquitoes are around.
- Cover up as much as possible.
- Use an effective mosquito repellent on all exposed skin.
- Prevent mosquito breeding around your own home.
- Prevent mosquitoes from getting inside by using fly screens on windows and doors.
- Use mosquito coils or insecticide candles in small, outdoor areas.
