Flooding, heavy rains and summer heat have produced a bumper crop of pesky mosquitoes, particularly in the waterlogged Midwest. Here’s how experts recommend avoiding the bugs and treating their bites
Flooding, heavy rains and summer heat have produced a bumper crop of pesky mosquitoes, particularly in the waterlogged Midwest. Here’s how experts recommend avoiding the bugs and treating their bites
Flooding, heavy rains and summer heat have produced a bumper crop of pesky mosquitoes, particularly in the waterlogged Midwest. Here’s how experts recommend avoiding the bugs and treating their bites:
— Wear insect repellent containing deet, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus and apply it frequently.
—Drain standing water from backyard bird baths, discard old tires and other containers that trap water, and frequently replace water in kiddie pools.
—Avoid going outside from dusk to dawn, peak activity times for some mosquitoes.
—Avoid dark clothes, which can absorb heat and make you more visible; choose neutral colors that blend in with the environment.
—Avoid perfumes and sweet-smelling lotions and cosmetics, including lavender scents, which attract mosquitoes.
—Perspiration is a lure, so wash after exercising or sweating heavily. —Antihistamine tablets taken throughout mosquito season or after being bitten can help reduce bumps and itchiness.
—Hydrocortisone creams and other over-the-counter anti-itch treatments sometimes help reduce discomfort. (AP)
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