Insect-Borne+Diseases

LYME DISEASE, WEST NILE VIRUS AND EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS. We hear about it on the news, but do you really know what they are and how to prevent getting them? Read on below and find out what you can do to protect yourself.

Ticks transmit [|Lyme Disease]. The greatest risk for acquiring Lyme Disease in NH in between May and August. The American dog tick and the Deer tick are the 2 most common tick seen in NH

Mosquitos transmit [|West Nile Virus] (WNV) and [|Eastern Equine Encephalitis] (EEE). Late July to late September are when most cases of WNV and EEE have been reported in NH.

Remember, tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases are preventable:  __Reduce tick and mosquito bites and promptly remove attached ticks: __ 1. Avoid tick and mosquito-infested areas. 2. Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easy to see. 3. When feasible wear long pants and shirts; tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants. 4. Consider using an insect repellent. Products containing ³  20% DEET have been shown to be effective in repelling ticks and mosquitoes. For mosquitoes only, use a product containing less than 30% DEET or one containing Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Clothes may be treated with Permethrin. 4. Check after every two or three hours of outdoor activity for ticks on clothing and skin. A thorough check of body surfaces for attached ticks should be done at the end of the day. Promptly remove any attached ticks. The chance of disease transmission increases with duration of time an infected tick is attached; if a tick is attached for fewer than 24 hours the chance of disease transmission is extremely small. 

__ Reduce the number of ticks and mosquitoes in areas where people spend time __
1. For ticks: keep grass short, remove leaf litter, and create a wood chips or gravel barrier where your lawn meets the woods. 2. For mosquitoes: eliminate standing water and ensure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.

Additional information on preventing Lyme disease through landscape management and chemical control is available from the “Tick Management Handbook”, accessible free-of-charge at the following website: [].