Diseases & Topics
Arboviruses
Preventing Mosquito Bites
The best defense against arboviral infections is to avoid mosquito bites.
To protect yourself and your family against mosquito bites:
- Reduce time spent outdoors, particularly during early morning and early evening hours when mosquitoes are most active;
- Wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts; and
- Apply EPA-approved mosquito repellents to exposed skin areas, following our guidelines.
To reduce mosquito breeding areas around your home:
- Remove any containers that can hold water — especially old tires;
- Keep gutters clean and in good repair;
- Repair leaky outdoor faucets and change the water in bird baths and pet bowls at least twice a week;
- Use screened windows and doors and make sure screens fit tightly and are not torn; and
- Keep tight-fitting screens or lids on rain barrels.
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