Steps to take to protect yourself against mosquitoes and ticks

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- The relief from the heat meant a lot of people got outside on Saturday in the Triangle. However, there is standing water from the rain, which can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and ticks, and this could lead to bigger problems, such as Lyme disease and West Nile Virus.

Sisters Jaden and Lauren Read enjoyed the cooler temperatures by getting some exercise on the Al Buehler Trail in Durham. What they didn't enjoy, the mosquitoes.

"Closer to the water, especially like, if we stand still down there or don't move fast enough," Lauren told ABC11. "So we try and keep up the pace to stay away from it."

With the state's first case of the West Nile virus confirmed in Durham County, people are taking precautions.

"It's still very concerning," said Megan Averill.



Averill knows all too well the threat of West Nile. She was the program manager for emerging infectious disease research at a university in Texas.

"I'm not totally surprised. The range in which the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile can thrive in is expanding. So it's really just a matter of time," she said.

Averill said using repellent spray is vital.

"Everyone should be using DEET. It's incredibly effective, and there are a lot of misconceptions about its safety and impact on the environment," she said. "It's essential if you know that you're going to be out in an area where there's likely to be a lot of mosquitoes, and they really can thrive and lay eggs and even in the tiniest teaspoon of water. There's also clothing that have been treated with permethrin and that is a repellent. If you don't want to actually spray yourself with DEET every time, it's especially important for ticks to have that around your ankles. So, there's socks and gators and all sorts of things you can use."



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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no vaccine to prevent or medicines to treat West Nile in people. Besides insect repellent and clothing, it's suggested you take steps to control mosquitoes, which include preventing water from collecting in containers around your home and, when possible, draining any standing water on your property.



Also, keep your gutters clean, and if you are opening the windows with these cooler temps, make sure the screens don't have any rips or tears where mosquitoes can get in.

Besides mosquitoes, ticks are also a big concern, especially in heavily wooded and tall grassy areas. Ticks can transmit several diseases, like Lyme Disease.

"The symptoms can start out like a flu, muscle ache, that telltale sign of a rash and if left untreated can progress to more serious symptoms that may involve your brain, neurological symptoms, your heart, joint pains and this can be quite debilitating for a long time and keep in mind more than a half million people get diagnosed with Lyme Disease every year," Dr. Alok Aatel and ABC News Contributor said.

Lyme Disease is treatable with an antibiotic. There are key things you can do to try to avoid ticks, like staying out of tall grassy areas and staying on the path in the woods. Also, wear long sleeves and pants; you can also treat clothing with a tick repellent.

As soon as you get inside, do a complete head-to-toe tick check, as they like to hide in the most unlikely areas.