Take Precautions against Mosquitoes and Mosquito Bites

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Public health officials across Utah are reminding all residents who will be outside over the 4th of July holiday and the rest of the summer to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
• When making plans to be outside, prevent mosquito bites by covering arms and legs and using an insect repellent with 20%-30% DEET, which is safe to use during pregnancy.
• Find and remove any puddles of water or standing water around your home to reduce mosquito breeding sites, including in pet dishes, flower pots, wading pools, buckets, tarps, and tires.
• Wipe out your birdbath every few days to keep mosquito eggs from sticking to the bottom.
• Maintain your swimming pool to prevent mosquito breeding.
• Report bodies of stagnant water to the local Mosquito Abatement District (MAD). Visit http://www.umaa.org/ for a list of MADs.
• Keep doors, windows, and screens in good condition and make sure they fit tightly.
• Consult with an immunization travel clinic before traveling to areas that may have mosquito-borne illness such as Zika or dengue and take the necessary precautions.

So far this season, no locally-acquired human cases of any mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV), Zika virus, or chikungunya have been reported in Utah, and the mosquitoes that carry Zika virus aren’t currently found in Utah. Even so, Utah Department of Health (UDOH) epidemiologist Dallin Peterson warns, “Since there is no vaccine for humans for these diseases, taking simple precautions to avoid mosquito bites is the key to reducing your risk for infection.”  A West Nile virus vaccine is available for horses and officials recommend all horses be vaccinated against the disease.

While West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, not all mosquitoes carry the virus. The mosquitoes that carry the virus are typically out from dusk to dawn. But, this year there is an additional concern. Due to the spread of the Zika virus in other parts of the world, officials in southern Utah are also on the lookout for the mosquitoes that can carry the Zika virus. Those mosquitoes tend to bite mostly during the daytime and are also the same type of mosquitoes that carry dengue and chikungunya. So, it is especially important to use insect repellent and cover your arms and legs when you are traveling to countries with these diseases.

“The best way to reduce your risk for any illness carried by mosquitoes is to use an insect repellent with DEET when you’re outside,” says Peterson. “Adults and children older than two months of age can safely use repellents that contain up to 30% DEET,” Peterson added. Repellents are not recommended for children younger than two months of age.

Mosquito surveillance in Utah is underway and will continue into the fall. For more information, call your local health department or visit www.health.utah.gov/wnv. The UDOH web site will be updated each Wednesday through October with available detection information. Information on the Zika virus is available at health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/zika/.

Health care providers and women who are pregnant and have questions or are concerned about the Zika virus may call 1-800-822-2229 or text expertinfo@mothertobaby.org for information.

Media Contact:
Rebecca Ward
(o): 801-538-6682
(c): 801-352-1270