Reducing vector-borne disease
Vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens and parasites from one infected person or animal to another, causing serious diseases in human populations.
Mosquito-borne diseases that may occur locally in Ohio include Eastern equine encephalitis (opens in a new window, leaves this site) (EEEV), LaCrosse virus (opens in a new window, leaves this site) (LACV), St. Louis encephalitis (opens in a new window, leaves this site) (SLEV), and West Nile virus (opens in a new window, leaves this site) (WNV). Travel-acquired diseases that may be imported into Ohio include Chikungunya, Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, Malaria, Yellow fever, and Zika.
Take action to protect yourself and others (opens in a new window, leaves this site): avoid mosquitoes and mosquito bites, plan ahead while traveling, and stop mosquitoes from breeding in and around your home. See Tips to Prevent Mosquito Bites (EPA) (opens in a new window, leaves this site).
Mosquito Control Program
FCHD practices an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to mosquito control. This includes trapping for adults, dipping for larvae, treating standing water with larvicide, draining breeding sites when possible, and spraying to kill adults when needed.
Reducing mosquito habitats around the home
Mosquitoes lay eggs on or near water; a new generation can emerge in as little as one week. Eliminating habitats around your home greatly reduces the local mosquito population. Common sources of standing water:
- Bird baths (drain & refill every 3-4 days)
- Wading / kiddie pools
- Pools & hot tubs (keep chlorinated & covered)
- Pool covers that hold water
- Boats, boat covers, and tarps
- Pet food containers and water dishes
- Clogged gutters and downspouts
- Leaky outdoor faucets that puddle
- Unscreened or untreated rain barrels
- Low areas that hold water
- Planters, pots, saucers, and catch trays
- Trash cans (use tight-fitting lids)
- Tree holes that hold water (fill with sand)
- Tall weeds & vegetation (keep cut short)
- Tires, buckets, cans, bottles, containers
Personal protection
- Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks in mosquito-infested areas.
- Make sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and free of holes.
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent when outside.
- When camping, consider permethrin-treated bed nets, tents, or clothing.
- Avoid perfumes, colognes, or heavy scents that may attract mosquitoes.
Mosquito repellent information
Insect repellents help prevent bites and reduce exposure risk. Always follow label directions. Use products with EPA-registered active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD, and IR3535.
For babies and children: dress children in clothing that covers arms and legs; cover strollers and carriers with mosquito netting; do not use OLE/PMD on children under 3; do not apply repellent to a child's hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin; apply to your own hands first, then to a child's face.
Tick information
Not all ticks cause disease, but certain species carry the bacteria that cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease.
The American dog tick is the primary carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and is widespread in Ohio. Only about 3% of the tick population carries the bacterium, so exposure risk is low. Symptoms appear 2-14 days after a bite and can include sudden fever, headache, flu-like symptoms, and a spotted rash beginning at the wrists and ankles. Treated early with antibiotics it is curable; untreated it can be fatal.
Lyme disease is transmitted by the black-legged ("deer") tick, common in deciduous forest with leaf litter. The first sign is often a "bull's-eye" rash 7-14 days after exposure, with possible muscle aches, fatigue, fever, swollen glands, headache, and joint pain. Early Lyme is commonly treated with antibiotics. You cannot get either disease from another person.
Reduce your exposure to ticks
Ticks are active in Ohio from early spring to late fall, waiting on vegetation to cling to fur or clothing, they do not fall from trees.
Stick to the center of trails when hiking. Wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into your socks. Use a DEET repellent on clothes or exposed skin. Keep grass cut short and remove leaf litter around your home. Check for ticks along the hairline, between the toes, behind the knees, groin, armpits, neck, and behind the ears.
CDC tick prevention (opens in a new window, leaves this site)
What to do if you find a tick on you
Remove the tick as soon as possible to reduce infection risk. Use tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull with steady, even pressure, do not twist or jerk, and don't crush, puncture, or burn it. Afterward, disinfect the bite site and wash your hands with soap and water.
CDC, after a tick bite (opens in a new window, leaves this site)
Should I get my tick tested for germs?
The CDC strongly discourages using tick-testing results to decide whether to take antibiotics after a bite: results may not be reliable, positive results don't mean you were infected, and negative results can be misleading (you may have been bitten by a different tick). Talk to your healthcare provider instead.