Tick and skeeter season brings bug bite danger

JACKSON (WNE) — Slap on some bug repellent, tuck your pant legs into your socks and scan yourself for creepy-crawlies.
In a seasonal advisory, the Wyoming Department of Health warns that ticks can spread tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus.
“The reported case numbers from the diseases ticks and mosquitoes can cause are usually not high compared to other illnesses, but we see some activity each year, and the results can be quite serious for some people,” Department of Health epidemiologist Courtney Tillman said in a press release. “Avoiding these insects and their bites is key.”
To guard against ticks, the department recommends using insect repellents with 20% or more DEET and/or picaradin and wearing light-colored clothing so you can see critters on you. Pet owners should check their furry pals for ticks and use tick control products recommended by their vets.
Insect repellent containing DEET is also recommended for thwarting mosquitoes, the press release said. Picaradin and oil of lemon eucalyptus can also work.
The department recommends wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts in light colors and tightly woven material, plus shoes and socks. Also, be aware that mosquitoes like to feed at dawn and dusk.
 
This story was published on May 12, 2022.