Insect-borne Disease

Ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and other disease carrying insects

Examples

• Lyme Disease
• Ehrlichiosis
• Babesiosis
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
• West Nile Virus (WNv)

How can I get sick?

• You get bitten by an infected tick, flea or mosquito

How bad can it get?

• Symptoms can range from mild illness to hospitalization or death

How can I protect myself?

• Prevent tick bites
  • Walk on cleared trails
  • Wear a hat, long sleeves and pants, and light-colored clothing
  • Tuck pant legs into socks or boots
  • Use insect repellents (with DEET) on clothing and exposed skin
  • Inspect clothes, skin and pets for ticks
  • Remove the whole tick by grasping as close to the tick’s head as possible
  • Slowly pull tick straight out
  • Try not to squeeze the tick as you remove it
  • Keep the tick, show it to your doctor
• Prevent MOSQUITO bites
  • Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing
  • Use insect repellents (with DEET) – NOTE: DEET may not be safe for infants and children

Not feeling well?

• Initial symptoms may be mild and include the following:
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Muscle pains
  • Fatigue
  • Chills
  • Sweats
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Rash
• More serious conditions can develop, and include the sudden onset of:
  • Chest pain
  • Muscle pain
  • Stomach pain
  • Loss of appetite and/or weight
• Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms up to two months after exposure to ticks, fleas or mosquitoes