Camping and hiking are both wonderful summertime activities, but they aren’t as fun when you’re covered in bug bites. Joe Frazier, environmental health director at the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Health Agency, shares how to protect yourself from mosquitos and ticks as you adventure outdoors this summer.
Bugs You Might Find While Outside
In Michigan, mosquitos and ticks are the most common outdoor bugs.
Mosquitos can carry West Nile virus, which causes mild flu-like symptoms or more serious neurological problems.
Southern Michigan has a growing population of black-legged ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. Signs of Lyme disease include a bull’s eye rash on your skin at the site of the tick bite and body aches. If you notice one or both of these symptoms, visit your primary care provider for treatment to avoid long-term nerve damage.
Safety Tips
Always do a tick check all over your body after spending time outside in the spring and summer. If you find a tick on yourself or a loved one, remove the entire tick carefully and check to make sure its head is still attached to its body.
Mosquitos are more active in the early morning and late evening. Use bug spray if you have outdoor plans during these times. Long-sleeved clothes also help to reduce your risk of bug bites.
Keep your pets safe from bug bites by treating them with regular doses of flea and tick preventative medicine.
If you are concerned about a bug bite, schedule a visit at your local primary care clinic.
