West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes that get the virus from infected birds. Mosquitoes infected with the virus can transfer it to humans and other animals. Humans infected with the virus may become very ill. The disease usually is most serious in children, people with weakened immune systems, and the elderly. In 2017, California reported 553 human cases of West Nile Virus, which included 44 fatalities.
Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites by following these tips:
- Drain any container that holds standing water, use mosquito-eating fish, cover pools, or use a pesticide product containing a bacterium that kills mosquito larvae.
- Use screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out.
- Avoid being outside during dawn and dusk.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants socks/shoes and a hat.
- Use an effective mosquito repellent such as one containing the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (also known as PMD or para-menthane-diol)
Read more about managing mosquitoes by visiting the UC IPM Mosquitoes web page.There you will find short videos, information in Spanish, and more resources on West Nile Virus and Zika.
Lyme disease can be transmitted to humans and pets in California from the bite of an infected western blacklegged tick. Lyme disease causes flu-like symptoms that left untreated, may progress to arthritic, neurologic, or cardiac problems. Incidences of Lyme disease have occurred in some northern California counties, with some counties posing a higher risk of contracting the disease than others..
There are several ways to protect yourself from Lyme disease. If you spend time outdoors in tick-infested areas, take these simple precautions:
- Wear full length-pants and long-sleeved shirts, and tuck your shirt into your pants, and your pant legs into socks.
- Perform tick checks – frequently inspect your clothing and exposed skin while outdoors and after you return, check your pets also.
- Remove any ticks before they can attach – pay special attention to the scalp, behind the ears and arms and legs.
- Wash clothing and dry on a one-hour dryer cycle at high heat to kill any ticks that may have crawled onto clothing.
If you find an embedded tick, do not use any of the popular methods of removing them such as applying heat from a lit match or using petroleum jelly.
To learn more about Lyme disease as well as how to safely remove a tick and where to take a tick sample, visit the UC IPM Pest Note: Lyme Disease in California and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes that get the virus from infected birds. Once infected, mosquitoes then transfer the virus to humans and other animals. Infected humans can become very ill. The disease usually is most serious in children, people with weakened immune systems, and the elderly.
As weather warms and people spend more time outdoors, it's essential to review how to reduce mosquito breeding sites and how to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Prevention
Standing water from rainstorms and warm weather make perfect breeding conditions for female mosquitoes. Find out what you can to limit mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as bird baths, ponds, roof gutters, swimming pools, and other containers. UC IPM's Mosquitoes Pest Note lists many options for mosquito management including draining any container that holds standing water, using mosquito-eating fish, covering pools, or using a pesticide product containing a bacterium that kills mosquito larvae.
Protection
When outdoors, minimize the amount of exposed skin by wearing a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, socks/shoes, and a hat. You can also apply a mosquito repellent, but note that some are more effective than others. Read about recently tested and effective repellents in our Pests of the Urban Landscape blog article. As with any pesticide, always read and follow the directions on the product label.
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This updated publication, by authors Robert S. Lane and Anne Kjemtrup, contains new information on incidents of Lyme disease in California.
You can read about the main carrier of Lyme disease, the western blacklegged tick, including the biology of the tick, specific habitats (dense woods and trails with leaf litter), places and times of the year where bites from disease-carrying ticks are more likely to occur, and how to reduce the presence of ticks around homes.
If you discover you've been bitten by a tick, save it for identification. You may have been exposed to Lyme disease if you develop flu-like symptoms or a rash within a week or two of being bitten. If this happens, see your doctor immediately.
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
How is Zika Transmitted? The Zika virus is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes egypti mosquito, a species also known to carry yellow fever. The Zika virus is thought to also be transmitted via blood transfusion and sexual contact, and in rare cases from mother to child. Researchers are currently investigating the link between the Zika virus and birth defects including microcephaly.
How to Protect Yourself. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, wear protective clothing when outside or in the presence of mosquitoes. You may also need to wear repellent as mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing.
Female mosquitoes seek out a suitable habitat to lay eggs, which can be any kind of container that holds less than one cup of water. To eliminate breeding habitat, prevent standing water from accumulating in items such as wheelbarrows, toys, and ceramic pots, etc. Tires are the most common developmental sites for Zika-transmitting mosquitoes in the U.S.
Read more about the Zika virus and how to protect yourself from mosquitoes that may carry the virus, read the National Pest Alert from the Regional IPM Centers. UC IPM's Mosquitoes web page also has videos and other useful information about reducing mosquito breeding sites and protecting yourself and your family from bites.