Hiker woman applying mosquito repellent on her arm during summer hike to prevent insect-borne illnesses

Bug Off: Staying Safe from Insect-Borne Illnesses During the Summer

9 minutes

Hiker woman applying mosquito repellent on her arm during summer hike to prevent insect-borne illnesses

With COVID-19 restrictions lifted in most areas, summer activities are on the rise. Unfortunately, with increased outdoor time comes an increased risk of bug bites — and the accompanying health dangers they carry. Mosquitoes and ticks are the worst offenders, but simple protective and preventive measures can help reduce the risk of insect-borne illnesses while maximizing the benefits of the great outdoors.

The usual suspects

Although mosquitoes are considered the deadliest animals in the world according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), they do play a vital role in our ecosystem. Male mosquitoes, for example, eat nectar and pollinate several species of plants. They are an essential food source for other animals and insects, including bats, reptiles, birds, and amphibians.

Scientists are also exploring the medicinal benefit of mosquitoes in treating cardiovascular disease. That same mosquito saliva that causes so much irritation may help unlock the development of new anti-clotting drugs.

Likewise, ticks provide an essential food source for reptiles, amphibians, and birds. They also serve as a benchmark species for other populations. Scientists monitor tick populations to gauge the health of the overall ecosystem, and low tick populations could be a sign that something is out of whack.

As much as many people might wish otherwise, eradicating mosquitoes and ticks altogether would result in a significant disruption to multiple ecosystems. That said, the dangers they pose are equally significant, and should be understood by everyone spending time outdoors.

Common mosquito-borne diseases

West Nile virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common virus spread by the Culex species of mosquitoes, which are found throughout most of the United States. The introduction of the virus in the United States occurred in 1999 via birds, which are the natural hosts, or vectors, of the virus. Mosquitoes feeding off infected birds then became viral vectors themselves, carrying WNV to humans.

Most reported cases of WNV occur between July through September, and symptoms include headache, generalized weakness, nausea/vomiting, fever, skin rash, muscle, joint, and eye pain in approximately 40% of cases. In severe cases, encephalitis can result in subsequent neurological impairment such as memory loss, tremors, seizures, confusion, and paralysis.

Zika virus

The Zika virus spreads through the bite of an infected Aedes vittatus mosquito. This species is also an effective vector of dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The most common symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, headache, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis, and muscle pain. The symptoms last for a few days or up to a week; however, asymptomatic people can also transmit the virus, and a blood or urine test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

Sexual activity can also pass on the Zika virus, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex, as well as sharing sex toys. Transmission of the Zika virus from a pregnant woman to her fetus can result in congenital disabilities. Therefore, couples at risk for Zika should take precautions such as the use of condoms (both male and female), avoiding shared sex toys, or abstinence.

While hospitalization and death rarely occur when infected with the Zika virus, there is no vaccine or medication to protect against it. Thankfully, as of 2019, there are no reports of the Zika virus transmitted by mosquitoes in the continental United States or territories.

Dengue virus

The bite of an infected Aedes mosquito species spreads dengue. Dengue is common in more than 100 countries globally, and occurs most often in the US territories of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. In addition, Hawaii, Florida, and Texas have reported outbreaks of dengue, though almost all dengue cases reported are from travelers infected outside the United States.

Approximately 1 out of 4 people infected with dengue will become sick. Severe dengue is life-threatening, requiring immediate hospitalization. Symptoms of dengue may present as a rash, muscular and joint aches/pains, vomiting/nausea, fatigue, belly ache, vomiting blood or bloody stool, or bleeding from nose or gums.

Common tick-borne diseases

Lyme disease

Four main species of bacteria, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii, cause Lyme disease in the United States. Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged tick, known as the deer tick, and spending time in grassy or heavily wooded areas where ticks thrive increases the risk of becoming infected.

A deer tick must attach for 36 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease. The early signs of an infection appear as a small, red bump like a mosquito bite at the tick bite or removal location. Within one month, a rash may appear, followed by a fever, chills, fatigue, headache, neck stiffness, and swollen lymph nodes.

If untreated, other Lyme’s symptoms may include spreading rash, joint pain, and neurological issues such as Bell’s palsy, muscular weakness, and meningitis. Less common symptoms can include irregular heartbeat, hepatitis, eye inflammation, and severe fatigue. Treatment for Lyme disease includes antibiotics such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime axetil.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)

RMSF is transmitted by the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and the brown dog tick. RMSF exists in most of the United States; however, five states (North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri) account for more than 60% of the cases. In addition, RMSF has been reported in some regions of Arizona over the past few years.

The signs and symptoms of RMSF include high fever, severe headache, fatigue, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, edema surrounding the eyes and back of hands. Later symptoms (beyond five days) include cerebral edema, altered mental status, coma, respiratory complications, necrosis, and multisystem organ damage.

The risk of fatality increases if treatment does not commence within the first five days of symptoms. Therefore, prescription of doxycycline is imperative to prevent severe damage or possible death.

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Staying safe while staying active

The CDC recommends insect repellents as the first line of defense against disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks. Choice of repellents or pesticides depends on the nature of the outdoor activity, the region of the country, the length of time spent outdoors, and personal preference.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following insect repellents:

  • DEET: Designed for direct application to the skin, making it difficult for bugs to smell people rather than killing the bugs.
  • Picaridin
  • Permethrin: Should not be applied to the skin but sprayed on clothes, tents, and sleeping bags.
  • IR3535
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE): Do not use this product for children under three years of age.
  • Para-menthane-diol (PMD): Do not use this product for children under three years of age.
  • 2-undecanone: Derived from the tomato plant, this repellent protects up to four-and-a-half hours.
  • Geraniol: Found in citronella, lemongrass, and rose oil.
  • Catnip Oil: Derived from the nepeta cataria plant, this oil offers protection for seven hours.
  • Cinnamon Oil: Protects for up to an hour-and-a-half.
  • Nootkatone: Made from grapefruit skins and cedar trees, this offers several hours of protection from mosquitoes.

Repel or attract?

Floral scents in soaps, deodorants, lotions, and perfume attract mosquitoes, as do smelly feet, dirty socks, and even the natural chemicals our bodies produce when sleeping. Conversely, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, rosemary, clove, peppermint, cedarwood, and citronella are all scents that repel mosquitoes.

Safely enjoying summer weather should start with a clothing inventory. Long hikes through deep forests or tall grass heightens the likelihood of tick and insect bites, so it is important to cover exposed skin as much as possible. Wear light-colored clothes, hats, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to make it easier to see the tick. Tucking shirts into pants and pants into socks prevents mosquitoes from entering under clothes.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so it is critical to drain, change, or remove items that store water, including birdbaths, uncovered buckets, trash can lids, unused flowerpots, drains, gutters, water troughs for animals, and wading pools.

Mosquitoes are active from dusk to dawn, so avoiding outdoor activity during this period can also reduce exposure.

Tick avoidance tricks

Ticks thrive in wooded, grassy, bushy areas. Gardening, camping, hiking, hunting, and dog-walking through those areas increases the risk of exposure to ticks. When possible, hike on designated trails in order to reduce exposure.

Treating clothes with permethrin or applying insect repellent reduces the risk of tick bites, but be aware! Ticks can cling to clothing, pets, and gear long after the hike has ended. Washing and drying clothes on high heat kills ticks, and showering within two hours of returning from the outdoors reduces the risk of tick bites.

A full-body examination is necessary to find and remove hidden ticks, paying particular attention between the toes, groin, back of the knees, behind the ears, the hairline, the armpits, and behind the ears. Removal of ticks requires a fine-tipped tweezer. Grasp the tick near the skin and use a firm and gradual upward pressure without twisting. After removal of the tick, wash the affected area with soap and water.

Although some species of ticks and mosquitoes transmit diseases, they serve a purpose in maintaining our ecosystem. Protecting our health and our ecosystem is achievable by taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening mosquito and tick-borne diseases.

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Editor’s note: this post was originally published on July 7, 2021.

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