Dealing with Insect-Borne Diseases

Plentiful rainfalls can replenish gardens and lawns, leave waterways full and flowing, and allow for water use restrictions to be lifted or delayed. But that increased moisture can lead to ideal conditions for causing a surge in insect populations that are carriers of harmful diseases. Understanding the risks and taking proactive measures can help you and your family be more comfortable while staying safe from insect-borne diseases.

Four common disease-carrying insects in the U.S.

Mosquitoes thrive in wet conditions. Stagnant water from heavy rains provides ideal breeding grounds, creating a surge in mosquito populations during the summer months. Mosquitoes can carry such diseases as West Nile virus, Zika virus, and dengue fever. Keep in mind that while dusk is typically a peak activity time for mosquitoes in the U.S., different species have different activity levels.

Minimizing Mosquito Populations

1. Eliminate Standing Water: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. Regularly empty and clean birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, clogged gutters, and any other containers that collect water – even small amounts.
2. Use Insect Repellents: Apply EPA-approved insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil to exposed skin and clothing when outdoors to significantly reduce your risk of getting bitten.
3. Install Screens: Ensure windows and doors have tight-fitting screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. Promptly repair any holes or tears.
4. Wear Protective Clothing: Reduce the amount of exposed skin by wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks whenever possible. Light-colored clothing is less attractive to mosquitoes than dark.

Ticks: Certain weather patterns, particularly mild winters and humid springs, can lead to more ticks. Often found in wooded and grassy areas, ticks can carry diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis. The black-legged tick, commonly known as the deer tick, is the primary transmitter of Lyme disease in the United States.

Reducing Tick Exposure

1. Avoid Common Habitats: When hiking or spending time in wooded or grassy areas, stay on well-trodden paths and avoid tall grasses.
2. Apply Repellents: Apply repellents that contain 20-30% DEET to skin and clothing. Products containing permethrin can be applied to clothing and gear for additional protection.
3. Perform Tick Checks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks. They often attach in hard-to-see areas such as the scalp, behind ears, and the underarms. Remove any found ticks with tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pulling straight out.
4. Keep Your Yard Tidy: Regularly mow the lawn and remove leaf litter in your yard. You can also create a “tick-safe zone” around your home by placing wood chips and gravel between lawns and wooded areas; this helps reduce the habitat for ticks and their hosts, like rodents and deer.

Fleas are small, wingless insects that often infest homes with pets. They can transmit diseases such as plague, typhus, and cat scratch fever. Fleas thrive in warm, humid environments and reproduce rapidly, making prompt management critical.

Managing Fleas

1. Treat Pets Regularly: Use veterinarian-recommended flea control products on pets, such as topical treatments, collars, or oral medications.
2. Clean Home Thoroughly: Regularly vacuum carpets, rugs, and furniture. Be sure you empty your canister or dispose of vacuum bags in an outdoor trash receptacle immediately after use. Wash pet bedding in hot water.
3. Use Flea Control Products: Apply flea sprays or powders to carpets, furniture, and pet bedding. Use professional pest control services for severe infestations.
4. Manage outdoor environment: Keep your yard clean and free of debris where fleas can hide. Treat outdoor areas with flea control products if pets spend a significant time outside.

Sand Flies are tiny flies that thrive in warm, humid environments, so while more common in the southern U.S., they have been found in a few northern states, as well. They can transmit several disease-causing organisms including leishmaniasis, which can cause skin sores and in severe cases can affect internal organs.

Protecting Against Sand Flies

1. Wear Protective Clothing: Cover as much skin as possible with long sleeves and pants. Sand flies are small enough to get through loose-weave fabrics, so tightly woven clothing is more effective.
2. Apply Repellents: Use insect repellents containing DEET or permethrin on clothing and exposed skin.
3. Avoid Peak Activity Times: Sand flies are most active during dawn and dusk, so limit your outdoor activities during those times to reduce your risk of being bitten.
4. Use Bed Nets: If you are in an area where sand flies are prevalent, sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets, especially if you are in the open or in poorly screened sleeping quarters.

Pay Attention to Exposure and Possible Symptoms

A proactive approach to managing mosquito, tick, flea, and sand fly populations and exposure can significantly reduce the risk of insect-borne diseases. Stay vigilant and informed about the conditions that favor these pests to enjoy a healthier, more enjoyable summer season. If you experience any discomfort that you suspect may be related to insect exposure, contact your health care practitioner. Watch out for:

• Unexplained headaches, joint, or muscle pain
• Fever
• Neck pain
• Rashes
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Remember, if you are enrolled in a Transocean Medical Plan, you can use your Transocean Benefits to consult via your UHC virtual visits or the 24/7 myNurseLine.