Limiting exposure to mosquitos, ticks is key

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dejza Walters
  • 66th Medical Squadron Public Health
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Summer is right around the corner and soon more time will be spent outdoors enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. Unfortunately, the arrival of summer also means a greater amount of insects pestering outdoor activities.

For many years, mosquitos were thought of as nothing more than uninvited guests at barbeques. Over the past few years, however, health officials have discovered that mosquitoes can carry dangerous diseases.

"West Nile Virus, which originates in birds, is a virus that affects the neurologic system, to include the brain," said Capt. Heidi Hernandez, 66th Medical Squadron Public Health element leader. "Female mosquitos feed on infected birds, contract the virus and then pass it on to the next bird or person that they bite."

In many cases, people bitten by a mosquito carrying the West Nile Virus have only minor symptoms, if any at all.

"When present, symptoms generally include fever, headache and fatigue," Hernandez said. "In more serious cases, symptoms may include muscle twitching, disorientation and even seizures."

While no perfect West Nile Virus prevention strategies exist, steps can be taken to reduce the chance of being infected with the disease.

"To minimize your chances of being bitten by mosquitos, try to limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, May through November, when mosquitos are most active," said Hernandez.

Another common insect found in Massachusetts are ticks.

Ticks position themselves on tall grass or plants, wait for an animal or person to brush against them and then latch on to clothing. The tick will then find a suitable place to burrow its head into skin and feed.

"Ticks carry several diseases, to include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and others," said Hernandez. "Of these, Lyme disease is the most common."

According to the CDC website, the risk of Lyme disease is highest in the Northeast from May through August.

"Following the bite of an infected tick, some patients may develop a bull's eye rash," said Hernandez. "While this type of rash raises suspicion for Lyme disease, it is not always present."

Some patients may simply develop flu-like symptoms in the early stages to include fevers, chills, headaches and muscle or joint pains, she added.

"As the disease progresses, worsening headaches, joint pains, and possibly tingling or other neurologic symptoms may develop," Hernandez said.

Luckily, ticks usually have to be attached for more than 48 hours to actually transmit Lyme disease. When identified early, most cases of Lyme disease are not serious and may be treated with antibiotics.

The best way to reduce your chance of getting West Nile Disease or Lyme disease is to limit contact with mosquitos and ticks.

To avoid exposure to ticks, the CDC recommends avoiding wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter and keeping yards free from rotting leaves and damp grasses to reduce the chances of breeding ticks. Performing a tick check after being outdoors is also a good idea; along the hairline, on the back of the neck, armpits, inside the belly button, between the legs, behind the knees and between toes are among the more common places ticks can be found.

Hernandez suggest that when weather permits, wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors and avoid areas with lots of standing water, like marshes or swamps to avoid exposure of mosquitos.

Other ways to reduce the chance of being exposed to mosquitos and ticks is to use insect repellent on your clothing and skin.

"The most effective insect repellant contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin when outdoors and treating clothing with permethrin [0.5 percent]," Hernandez said. "Although no vaccination exists for the West Nile Virus, most cases are mild and can be treated with over-the-counter medications."

If you find a tick on your skin, check the CDC website for information on how to properly remove and collect the tick for testing.

The 66th Medical Squadron Public Health office accepts ticks for testing when collected in a small clear bag or container with no liquid. Sticking them to clear tape will not be accepted. The tick will then be submitted for Lyme disease testing; results are usually available in two weeks.

For more serious cases, Hernandez suggests contacting your healthcare provider. For further information on the West Nile Virus, visit the 66th Medical Squadron Public Health office in Building 1900.

To learn more about the West Nile Virus, Lyme disease or preventing exposure to mosquito and ticks, visit www.CDC.gov or www.mass.gov.

For further information, contact the Public Health Office at 781-225- 6259.