Household pests are not only an annoyance, but they can be a health
hazard, as well. Take measures to ensure that your home is a healthy
environment for you and your family.
Mosquitoes
Protecting Yourself
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, avoid working or playing
outside during periods of increased mosquito activity (sunrise, sunset,
and the early evening hours). If this is not possible, then wear long
pants and long-sleeved shirts that provide a barrier to biting
mosquitoes during outside activities. Make certain you protect small
children playing outside from mosquitoes. This is best done with
clothing, repellents, screens, nets, and continued observation of the
children.
For exposed skin protection from biting mosquitoes, wear mosquito
repellent containing the active ingredient DEET on exposed skin. Many
commercial brands are available, 25-33% DEET repellent for adults is
ideal; 10-20% DEET for children. Keep DEET out of the eyes, mouth, and
nose. Read and follow the label instructions prior to application.
For additional protection from mosquitoes, insect repellents can be
applied on the outside of clothing to repel biting insects. Permethrin
can be used on the outside of clothing. This aerosol formulation is
applied to the outside of clothing before being worn. Do not spray the
inside of clothing that will contact the skin. Again, read and follow
the label instructions prior to application. Both DEET and permethrin
repellents are available at most hardware stores.
Additional related information:
Ticks
As warm weather arrives, so does tick season. State public health
officials want to remind you to be careful when spending time outside
since ticks carry several diseases.
North Carolina usually has more cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever each summer than any other state. Two other diseases ticks cause are ehrlichiosis and Lyme
disease. All of these diseases first cause flu-like symptoms and are
easily treated with antibiotics if caught early. If left untreated,
these diseases can become serious and even fatal in some cases.
Prevention
To prevent tick bites, wear long pants and long sleeves when in
wooded areas. Tuck pants legs into socks and shirts into pants. Wear
light-colored clothes so that you can see ticks more easily, and use
repellants to keep ticks from biting. Once you are back inside, check
yourself and any children for ticks immediately, paying particular
attention to the scalp. It is unlikely disease will get into your blood
in the first few hours after a tick bites, so it is important to remove
ticks as soon as possible.
Removing Ticks
If you find a tick, grab it with tweezers or a tissue close to
the skin and pull straight out slowly until the tick lets go. If mouth
parts stay in the skin, remove them with a sterile needle. (Nail
polish, petroleum jelly, or hot matches will not make a tick let go of
skin). Save the tick in a jar or plastic bag with alcohol in case you
develop any symptoms of disease. Wash your hands and the bite area with
soap and water, then clean the bite with disinfectant. Write down the
date you were bitten and watch for flu-like symptoms for three weeks.
Information from the North Carolina Department Of Environment And Natural Resources.
Rodents
*** information to come (mice, rats) ***
Additionally, visit the N.C. Department Of Natural Resources (DENR) webpage about pest management.
Roaches
*** information to come ***
Additionally, visit the N.C. Department Of Natural Resources (DENR) webpage about pest management.
Other
*** information to come ***
Additionally, visit the N.C. Department Of Natural Resources (DENR) webpage about pest management.