Knowledge of Mosquito-borne Diseases Should be Top of Mind in Summer

Knowledge of Mosquito-borne Diseases Should be Top of Mind in Summer

Cowleys prompts public to learn about main mosquito-transmitted illnesses and basic prevention tips

NEPTUNE CITY, NJ (JUNE 19, 2017) – Many people may connect the height of mosquito season, occurring in the summer through early fall, to the irksomely itchy welts that accompany mosquito bites. But, there are far worse associations to make with these blood-sucking pests, such as the health threats they pose to humans in their daily lives—even in their own backyards. To help protect the community against mosquito-related health risks, Cowleys is reminding the public about threatening mosquito-borne diseases as well as prevention tips to avoid bites. 

“Thanks to professional pest control there are certain serious, and sometimes even deadly, mosquito-transmitted illnesses, such as malaria, that we rarely see in the U.S. But, the public should remember that there are still harmful diseases including the Zika, West Nile and chikungunya viruses present in the U.S. that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes,” said Bill Cowleys, Co-owner Cowleys Pest Services. “In order to protect against these health threats, knowledge about each disease and general mosquito prevention is key.” 

According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) the main ways to avoid mosquito bites and better protect against mosquito-transmitted diseases include:

• Applying insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon-eucalyptus or IR3535 when outdoors and use as directed on the product label. Apply repellant over top of sunscreen, and reapply every four to six hours.
• Minimizing outside activity between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, though it is important to note that mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya are active throughout the day.
• Wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes when outdoors.
• Eliminating areas of standing water around the home including clogged gutters, birdbaths, flower pots, tires and kiddie pools or untreated pools. Mosquitoes need only half an inch of water to breed.
• Screening windows and doors, and patching torn screens.

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For more than two decades, Cowleys Pest Services has been helping homeowners and businesses throughout Monmouth, Mercer, Middlesex, and Ocean Counties deal with a full range of termite and pest infestations including bird, rodent, and wildlife removal. Cowleys also offers services and products to help property owners protect their investment including crawl space encapsulation, TAP insulation, and mold treatment. For more information, visit www.cowleys.com or call 732-897-9553.