How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
North Carolina -- April 21, 2022: NC Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed April as Tick and Mosquito Awareness Month in North Carolina. Preliminary data, in 2021 there were more than 1,000 cases of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases.
Preventing diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes in North Carolina's peak seasons (spring, summer, and early fall) can be accomplished through effective pest control methods
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services provided the following important information in a press release two days ago for tick season:
"Ticks and mosquitoes cause a high level of disease in North Carolina; they carry bacteria, viruses, and protozoans that can cause serious infections," said Alexis M. Barbarin, Ph.D., State Public Health Entomologist. "The best way to prevent illnesses associated with ticks and mosquitoes is to take protective measures, like using DEET and other EPA approved repellants and avoiding wooded, grassy or brushy areas."
To reduce exposure to ticks:
Avoid tick habitats, such as wooded, grassy or brushy areas.
Use tick repellent that contains DEET (or equivalent) on exposed skin and wear permethrin-treated clothing. Use caution when applying to children.
Reduce tick habitats with selective landscaping techniques.
If there is a tick attached to your body, carefully remove the tick by grasping it with fine-tipped tweezers as close as possible to your skin, then apply a steady, gentle pull until it releases.
The most common mosquito-borne illnesses in North Carolina are West Nile virus infection, eastern equine encephalitis and La Crosse encephalitis. North Carolina reported the second-highest number of LAC cases in the United States between 2011–2020.
Nearly 70% of mosquito-borne infections reported in the state in 2021 were acquired during travel outside the continental United States, including 32 cases of malaria and three cases of dengue. There were no cases of Zika virus infection reported in North Carolina in 2021; to date, all cases of Zika reported in North Carolina have been associated with travel outside of the continental United States.
To reduce exposure to mosquitoes:
Use mosquito repellent that contains DEET (or equivalent) when outside. Use caution when applying to children.
Consider treating clothing and gear (such as tents) with 0.5% permethrin.
Install or repair screens on windows and doors and use air conditioning if possible.
Talk with your primary care provider or local health department if you plan to travel to an area where exotic mosquito-borne diseases occur.
Always check your destination to identify appropriate prevention methods.
Reduce mosquito breeding by using the "Tip and Toss" method of emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths at least once a week.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis are all bacterial infections that cause fever, headache and rashes, as well as flu-like symptoms, when bitten by a tick. It is during this time of year that the majority of cases are reported. More than half of all tick-borne diseases reported last year were caused by Lyme disease, which was confirmed, probable, or suspected.
To increase awareness of these prevention strategies the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health collaborates with health agency partners and schools on the Fight the Bite campaign and poster contest. Fight the Bite aims to elevate awareness about the dangers of tick- and mosquito-borne diseases and to educate about protective measures. Winners the K-12 poster contest will be announced at the end of April.
Wnctimes by Marjorie Farrington
