North Carolina is home to many types of mosquitoes that can cause disease in people and their pets. There are a few simple steps you can take to avoid mosquito bites and protect yourself and your family from West Nile virus, Chikungunya (ChikV), Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases!

Eliminate areas for mosquitos to lay their eggs. 

Mosquitos thrive in shady, damp environments and need water to lay their eggs. The eggs are tiny and look like black dirt.Cold weather or drying out does not harm the eggs.

Tip it over or Toss It.

• Recycle or throw away trash and unwanted items.
• Prevent useful items from filling with water by covering them, turning them upside down, storing indoors, etc.
• Clean leaf-clogged gutters so they can’t hold water.
• Check rain gutters, downspouts and underground drains to make sure they are angled correctly and do not hold water between rains.
• Change water weekly in outdoor containers like pet bowls, flower pot dishes or bird baths so that mosquito larvae won’t have time to become adults.
• Stock ornamental ponds with fish that will eat mosquito larvae, such as mosquitofish
  (Gambusia affins).
• Be sure that rain barrels have a cover that will prevent mosquitoes from entering and breeding.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, preferable pre-treated with permethrin. When using repellents, READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY.
• Do not use repellents on children younger than 2 months. To apply repellent to your or your child’s face, put a little on your hands and apply carefully, avoiding eyes and mouth.
• Do not use repellents on cuts or irritated skin.
• Make sure window and door screens are in good condition.
• Avoid being outdoors when there are a lot of mosquitoes.

Chikungunya (ChikV)

Mosquitos spread Chikungunya (ChikV).Watch for fever with joint pain or rash within two weeks of returning from the Caribbean. If you get sick, see a a doctor. Tell the doctor you traveled to the Caribbean. Make sure you do not go outside to spread ChikV to the local mosquito population.

For more information, see the CDC “Fight the Bite!” website at
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm.