Author: Shay Wright

Even though Miami Beach was the source of five new non-travel Zika cases in August after the first local transmission in the continental United States was found on July 29th, controllers were unable to find any actual mosquitoes with the Zika Virus — until now.

On September 1, three mosquitoes taken from a 1.5-square-mile area in Miami Beach tested positive for the virus. CDC Director Dr. Tom Friedan compared finding a Zika-carrying mosquito to finding a needle in a haystack, and while it helps to understand the impact and to more effectively target resources, finding Zika-carrying mosquitoes isn’t crucial in confirming local mosquito transmission.

One of the mosquitoes was found in the botanical gardens of Miami, while the other two locations have not been disclosed.

The Florida Department of Agriculture continues to focus on trapping and testing, with 95 more mosquitoes testing negative for the virus since the finding of the mosquitoes with a positive testing. 42,400 mosquitoes have been tested throughout the state since May.

The 1.5-square-mile area in Miami Beach, as well as the Wynwood neighborhood where the first case of Zika was found, have been classified as Zika Zones.

Officials have been spraying areas in the Wynwood neighborhood with success, and code enforcement officials are moving through neighborhoods to fine people who have standing water on their property. Spraying in the Miami Beach area is more difficult as the buildings are too high for a helicopter or plane to fly low enough to spray. Officials are considering other options.

49 non-travel cases of Zika have been confirmed in Florida since July, while 576 travel-related Zika cases have been found. Florida is the only state in the continental United States to have an active circulating Zika case.

In most people, Zika causes mild symptoms like rashes and joint pain. Authorities continue to encourage residents to drain standing water, to wear protective clothing, and to wear repellent. And as Zika can cause brain damage in an unborn fetus, authorities are also discouraging pregnant women from traveling to the 1.5-square-mile area of Miami Beach where the cases have been confirmed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking more than 1,500 pregnant women infected with the Zika virus, and at least 16 have been born with birth defects.

While Zika has traveled rapidly throughout Latin America, authorities do not expect it to travel as explosively in the United States since homes are not as close together, most people have screens on windows that prevent mosquitoes from entering homes, and many people use air conditioning rather than keeping their windows open.

It’s always a good idea to take measures to prevent mosquitoes from entering your property and home, and it’s especially important during times of dangerous outbreaks. The first step is to eliminate standing water on your property and repair any holes in your screens or other entry points into your home. You should also consider hiring a professional mosquito control service such as Barefoot Mosquito to get rid of mosquitoes for you.

 

 

Related Posts

• Helpful Tips to Prevent The Zika Virus
• A Look at The Dangerous Diseases Mosquitoes Carry

 

It’s painful to watch your pet scratch at itchy flea bites, which is why medication like NexGard Spectra exists. As a pet owner, of course, you want your pet to be as healthy and comfortable as possible. Unless you find a way to get rid of the fleas and ticks, the itching will continue. But even worse, the diseases your pet can get from fleas and ticks can cause some serious damage to the four-legged members of your family. Just hoping your pet won’t come in contact with ticks and fleas isn’t enough. You need to take preventive measures to keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. If none of these have been working for your pet, look here to try and find the best treatment for fleas.

The Danger of Ticks and Fleas

Ticks can cause lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. Furthermore, because ticks aren’t easy to spot, pet owners often don’t always recognize a tick problem until their pet is exhibiting severe symptoms.

Fleas can cause a severe allergic reaction called flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). If it goes untreated, it can lead to skin damage from scratching and chewing. which can even lead to secondary skin infections. Fleas also can transmit tapeworms. And don’t forget that fleas can also jump from animal to human. So, it’s important to do everything possible to prevent fleas and ticks in the first place. If you’re looking specifically into why your cat might be showing symptoms of fleas or ticks, you’ll want to go and get them tested and treated as soon as possible, have a look into more cat skin problems if you’re thinking it may be another skin related issue.

Shampoo Treatment

If you can wrestle your dog or cat into a bath, a medicated shampoo treatment will kill ticks and fleas on contact. While an effective tick and flea treatment, you’ll have to repeat the process every two weeks or so.

Spot Treatments

Over-the-counter medications can prevent ticks and fleas for up to a month. Read the labels carefully to make sure you’re choosing the right product for your particular pet. Even better, talk to your vet to make sure you’re choosing the best treatment for your specific pet.

Oral Meds

If you have kids at home, oral medication is a good choice for tick and flea treatment. You don’t have to worry about your child coming in contact after application like you do with spot treatments. Effective against ticks, oral medications also disrupt the life cycle of fleas. Oral medications last for a month and are typically easy to administer.

Tick and Flea Collars

Tick and flea collars are a good extra measure, but they shouldn’t be relied on by themselves, as they really only protect the animal’s head and neck from ticks and fleas. If you use one, make sure it isn’t too tight around your pet’s neck, and watch for signs of irritation.

Tick Dips

Tick dips are effective against ticks on dogs and cats. Once diluted in water, this concentrated chemical is either poured over the animal’s back or applied with a sponge. The solution is not rinsed off after application. Be aware that the chemicals are strong, and should not be used on animals younger than 4 months or on pregnant or nursing animals.

Do Regular Checks

Regularly and thoroughly inspect your pet for signs of ticks, and take your pet to the vet once a year. Wash your pet’s bedding regularly, and keep your home vacuumed and clean.

In addition, prevent fleas and ticks from entering your home by making your property unfriendly to the bugs. Keep your grass cut, weed regularly, and don’t keep debris in your yard.

Talk With a Pest Control Company

Have a pest control company come to your home to talk about a professional flea and tick treatment. This is the best way to keep fleas and ticks out of your yard, thereby minimizing the risk of your pet ever coming in contact with these blood-sucking creatures in the first place.

 

Related Posts

• Some Interesting and Crazy Facts About Fleas and Ticks
• Tips to Help Get Rid of Fleas Naturally
• How to Protect Your Pets From Pests
• How to Protect Your Dog From Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are some of the most hated insects of the outdoors. Their bite leaves a nasty itch and plants a lingering worry in your mind about dangerous diseases like the Zika virus, West Nile virus, and more. Learn why mosquitoes bite, why they bite certain people more, and what you can do about it.

Why Mosquitoes Bite

Female mosquitoes need protein in the production of their eggs. Unfortunately for humans and animals, they get that protein from our blood.

Their method of blood removal is pretty ingenious, if not a little creepy. First, the mosquito uses her proboscis (like a needle) to pierce your skin, looking for a capillary for blood. As she does this, she injects saliva, which prevents your blood from coagulating but also temporarily numbs the area so you don’t feel the bite. That moment when you feel the mosquito and slap it away? That’s the moment when she’s actually pulling out after having a nice long drink of your blood.

Injecting her saliva means she may also inject deadly diseases into your bloodstream.

Why Do Some People Get Bitten More Often?

It’s not a myth. Mosquitoes really are attracted to some people more than others. What are those factors that make one person especially delicious to a mosquito?

• People with Type O blood
• People drinking beer
• People who are exercising (mosquitoes are drawn to sweat, heat, and movement)
• People who are emitting more carbon dioxide (pregnant women and those who are overweight)
• People who produce excess amounts of uric acid
• People with high concentrations of cholesterol or steroids on their skin

In addition, it is believed that dark clothing attracts mosquitoes because it makes you more visible.

How Can You Avoid Mosquitoes?

Because mosquitoes have some pretty predictable behaviors, you can minimize your exposure to the blood sucking insects in the following ways:

1. Stay inside during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
2. Wear light-colored clothing if you’re going to be outside during peak mosquito hours.
3. Wear loose-fitting clothing so mosquitoes can’t bite through your clothes.
4. Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks.
5. Avoid spending time near standing water.
6. Stay as cool and dry as possible when outdoors.
7. Try these natural mosquito repellants – eat garlic regularly, use cinnamon leaf oil, wash with citronella soap, catnip oil or try DEET free bug spray.

Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Home

If you’re having a mosquito problem near your home, you can take several different measures to minimize the mosquitoes.

First, make sure there is no standing water on your property. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and they can make quick work of it too. Even the pet’s water dish should not be left out. Give your pet a drink, and then pick up the dish and put it away until your pet is thirsty again.

Make sure your screens don’t have holes or gaps anywhere, and repair any tears as soon as they happen. You can also plant marigolds around your yard. Mosquitoes don’t like their scent, and will likely stay away.

Another solution is to install a bat house on your property. Since bats love to eat mosquitoes, they’ll be responsible for keeping the insect population down. Of course, then you’ll have bats on your property which isn’t real appealing to many people.

Run a house fan when you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time. Mosquitoes aren’t strong flyers and will struggle to come near if there is a steady breeze blowing.

Prevention is Paramount

Remember that mosquitoes are more than an annoyance. They actually cause more deaths than any other animal through the spread of malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and more. One mosquito can infect more than 100 people. You can’t go overboard in protecting your family from the effects of mosquito bites. Mosquito control should always be a high priority and for the best professional mosquito control in the Austin and Houston, TX area, contact Barefoot Mosquito today!

Related articles: How to Identify Common Bug Bites, Learn How to Identify Your Pests

 

Related Posts

• How Your Diet Can Repel Mosquitoes
• Do You Feel Like a Mosquito Magnet?
• Why Mosquitoes Love to Bite Our Feet and Ankles
• A Look at the Different Types of Mosquitoes
• A Look at The Things That Attract Mosquitoes

Most of us would do anything to avoid mosquitoes. Not only are their bites incredibly itchy and annoying, but they can also transfer dangerous and deadly diseases. Using a mosquito repellent can sometimes be an effective way to keep mosquitoes away, but did you know you can also go a more natural route by eating strategically? That’s right. Certain things you eat can actually repel mosquitoes.

• Garlic
  Eating garlic might wreak havoc on your breath, but if your friends and family can deal with it, the garlic could help you with mosquito protection. Begin eating a clove or two each day several days before you intend to be outdoors, and then continue eating a clove each day during the duration of your outdoor adventures. You’ll sweat the garlic odor out, and mosquitoes will steer clear.
• Apple Cider Vinegar
  One tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day keeps the mosquitoes away? It’s possible. If you’re going to be going on a camping trip, prepare ahead of time, and begin taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar each day three days before the trip. Keep it up throughout your time outdoors. You can also moisten a cotton ball with white vinegar and rub it on your skin to repel mosquitoes and gnats.

Repel Mosquitoes with These Foods Too (But You Don’t Have to Eat Them)

• Olive Oil
  Drinking olive oil won’t keep mosquitoes away, but the oil can keep the pests out of your yard. Put some in the water of your birdbath, and mosquitoes won’t breed there. And don’t worry – the oil won’t bother the birds.
• Vanilla
  For a sweet-smelling repellent, dilute 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract in 1 cup of water. Wipe it on any exposed skin to repel mosquitoes, gnats, and even ticks.
• Onions
  You won’t be the prettiest smelling person at the picnic, but if you rub sliced onions on your skin, mosquitoes will skip over you when they’re hunting for their lunch.
• Orange and Lemon Peels
  How about a sweeter alternative to onions? Apparently, mosquitoes and gnats aren’t fond of the citrusy smell of orange and lemon peels. If you rub the citrus on your body, you’ll be less tempting to a mosquito.

Keep Mosquitoes Away by Avoiding These Foods

While mosquitoes have a definite distaste for citrus, onions, and garlic, they are actually drawn to the scent of certain other foods. If you’re going to be outside camping, or if you’ll be outside during dusk when mosquitoes are most active, avoid these foods.

• Beer
  Scientists don’t know why, but mosquitoes are awfully attracted to people who have been drinking beer – even just one can.
• Potassium-Rich Foods
  Bananas, prunes, lima beans, potatoes, raisins, avocados, spinach – these potassium rich foods make your body give off more lactic acid. Mosquitoes are attracted to lactic acid because it indicates a warm-blooded animal is present. We all give off lactic acid, but these foods give off a stronger lactic acid scent.
• Sweets
  Most insects and animals are attracted to sweet foods because of their scent. Mosquitoes are no exception. Steer clear of the cakes, pastries, and candies if you’re going to be outside for a lengthy period of time.
• Salt
  Salty foods also increase the lactic acid your body gives off. Potato chips, pretzels, nuts, and crackers may be hard to put down, but if you don’t, they could draw the mosquitoes right to you.

To help keep the mosquitoes away this summer, keep these foods in mind when you’re going to be spending any amount of time outdoors. If you want to spend some time outdoors at your own home though and don’t want to worry about what to eat and not eat, simply call in the professional mosquito control experts at Barefoot Mosquito .

 

 

Related Posts

• Everything You Need to Know About Mosquito Bites
• Do You Feel Like a Mosquito Magnet?
• Why Mosquitoes Love to Bite Our Feet and Ankles
• A Look at the Different Types of Mosquitoes
• A Look at The Things That Attract Mosquitoes

They say opposites attract, and as you likely aren’t a blood-sucking parasite, it makes sense that a blood-sucking mosquito would be attracted to you. The feeling probably isn’t mutual though, so if you want to keep mosquitoes away, learn what drives them wild about you – so you can do the opposite.

Body Temperature

Mosquitoes are attracted to higher body temperatures. They don’t sense your heat until they’re a few yards away, but once they do, they’ll make a beeline for your increased temps.

Umm… Stench

Look, we don’t want to make things awkward here, but if you’re sporting some strong B.O., you’re just making it easier for mosquitoes to find you.

In addition, if you have stinky feet, you can almost guarantee a mosquito will be attracted to you. Mosquitoes are attracted to the bacteria that grows on human feet, and that bacteria is more present if your feet haven’t been cleaned in a while.

Sweat

Mosquitoes love moisture, and we already established they’re rather fond of body odor, so sweat is a magic combination for mosquitoes.

Movement

Mosquitoes track their prey with sight as well as scent. People who are moving a lot will capture the attention of the nasty parasites more than those who are sitting still. Playing sports, doing yard work, and exercising are all excellent ways to fill your time, but they’re also excellent ways to get caught by a searching mosquito.

Dark Clothing

Dark colors help mosquitoes find their targets from a distance because they provide a nice contrast from the environment around you. If you’re wearing dark clothing, especially dark blue, you’re making it all that much easier for a mosquito to locate you. Lighter colors help you camouflage into the background a bit better.

Potassium and Salt

Mosquitoes like the potassium, salt, and lactic acid released from your body, so if you’re going heavy on the bananas or dried fruit, you’re making yourself all the more delectable to a passing mosquito.

Lotions and creams with alpha hydroxy are also high in lactic acid. It’s best to avoid these products if you’re going to be spending time outdoors.

Perfume

Mosquitoes love floral scents, so if you lather up with scented lotion or spritz yourself with perfume, you might be making yourself more attractive to mosquitoes.

Alcohol

When you drink alcohol, your skin produces a chemical that mosquitoes really like. Not only this, but alcohol increases your temperature, and we’ve already established mosquitoes are attracted to warmer temperatures.

Blood Type

You knew there had to be a reason you seem to get all the mosquito bites while others around you walk away bite free. If you have type O blood, you’re 83 percent more likely to attract mosquitoes.

Breathing

It’s not like you can avoid it, but yes, breathing will bring the mosquitoes to your neck of the woods (and your neck!). Mosquitoes track their next meal by searching for CO2 output. This is because CO2 output indicates a living, breathing being to feast upon.

Pregnant Women

Pregnant women attract twice as many mosquitoes as non-pregnant women because they exhale more carbon dioxide, have more blood circulating through their bodies, and run higher temperatures. This is bad news when you’re hoping to avoid the Zika virus, so it’s imperative a mosquito repellant is used if you’re pregnant.

Mosquito Prevention

You can’t really stop breathing, moving, and sweating. And you shouldn’t have to worry about the color of your T-shirt or how long ago you ate your last banana. You can try to stay indoors during dusk and stay away from standing water as much as possible, but the best overall mosquito prevention is the professional, long lasting mosquito spray available from Barefoot Mosquito .

 

Related Posts

• Everything You Need to Know About Mosquito Bites
• Do You Feel Like a Mosquito Magnet?
• Why Mosquitoes Love to Bite Our Feet and Ankles
• A Look at the Different Types of Mosquitoes
• How Your Diet Can Repel Mosquitoes

This is one list you don’t want to spot your city on. A list of the 20 cities with the worst mosquito problems in the U.S. was compiled by pest control company, Orkin, and is based on the number of customers who bought mosquito control services from the company in 2015.

Known carriers of diseases, like Zika virus and West Nile virus, mosquitoes can be a danger to your family’s health and safety every summer.

And for the third year running, Atlanta, a city known for its Southern hospitality (and now mosquitoes), took first place. However, Atlanta wasn’t the only Southern belle to grace this most undesirable list. In fact, 8 of the 20 cities on the list are Southeastern cities.

This might be because mosquitoes thrive in hot, moist environments, and there is no shortage of these types of environments in the South. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, so it makes sense that Atlanta, with its steady rainfall and warm temperatures, would be a welcome breeding ground for the blood-sucking insect.

In addition, mosquito season can last a full two months longer in Southern states than in other parts of the country (June to October in the South instead of June to August in most other areas). No wonder mosquitoes are a big problem in Atlanta and other Southern states.

Top 20 US Cities with the Worst Mosquito Problem

1. Atlanta
2. Chicago
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Detroit
5. New York
6. Dallas-Ft. Worth
7. Nashville, Tenn.
8. Charlotte, N.C.
9. Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
10. Boston
11. Memphis, Tenn.
12. Houston
13. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
14. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Va.
15. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich.
16. Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C. and Asheville, N.C.
17. Albany, Schenectady, Troy, N.Y.
18. Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Ohio
19. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
20. Phoenix

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites

Now, don’t go snickering if your city isn’t on the list. Even if your city doesn’t fall under the 20 worst, mosquitoes can still be found in every city in the United States.

If you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, wear a mosquito repellant. On the home front, do everything you can to prevent mosquitoes from seeing your home as a desirable place to live.

1.Eliminate Standing Water
This is one of the most effective ways to prevent mosquitoes from invading your home and yard. Since mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, eliminating standing water will keep hundreds of baby mosquitoes from hatching near your home, finding their way to you, and biting your sweet, delicious skin.

Puddles, ponds, and marshes are obvious places for mosquitoes to congregate, but they really only need a few inches of water to breed, so keep your eye out for less obvious places too such as toys left out in the rain, small marshy corners of your lawn, and flower planters.

2. Clear Your Gutters
Your gutters and downspouts can easily collect leaves which can then easily collect a few inches of water. Regularly clear your gutters to prevent mosquitoes from sneakily taking over in this out-of-sight location.

3. Check Your Screens
Keep mosquitoes out of your house by making sure your screens are free of holes and your screen frames fit securely in your windows and doors. Don’t let the kids leave the door open after running outside, and close the door after each grocery unloading.

4. Thin Out Your Vegetation
Adult mosquitoes are protected from the wind by dense vegetation. Thin out your vegetation to prevent mosquitoes seeking shelter in your garden.

Be Careful

Proper mosquito prevention not only helps you avoid annoying, itchy welts, it helps prevent dangerous diseases as well. Despite your best efforts, however, effective mosquito control and prevention is very difficult to achieve on your own. You often need a professional mosquito control company to help fully prevent mosquito problems.

 

 

Related Posts

• 12 Interesting Facts About Mosquitoes
• The 10 Things Mosquitoes Hate Most
• 7 Common Mosquito Myths Not to Fall For

If you want to go somewhere to avoid mosquitoes, you’ll have to go all the way to Antarctica, the only area of the world where mosquitoes are not found. Not only are mosquitoes everywhere, they’re also more diverse than scientists can keep up with. At 3,000 mosquito species and counting, scientists don’t even agree on how mosquitoes should be classified.

However, scientists do agree that close to 200 species of the blood-sucking insects are found in North America and Mexico with the most common U.S. mosquitoes being the house mosquito, the southern house mosquito, the yellow fever mosquito, and the Asian tiger mosquito.

House Mosquito (Culex)

About a dozen species of the culex can be found in the United States. They lay their eggs (a hundred or more at a time) in pretty much any type of quiet water from storm drains to birdbaths to lakes to sewage cesspools.

The house mosquito bites humans and animals (mostly at night) and can carry deadly diseases.

Southern House Mosquito (Culex Quinquefasciatus or Culex Fatigans)

The Culex fatigans can be found in tropic and sub-tropic regions. Another night feeder, the Southern mosquito bites at night and can transmit both West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus.

The adults don’t travel much, and as their larvae need stagnant water, they take up residence near houses with a ready supply of standing water. Old tires, toys, and gutters are excellent collectors of water and favorite breeding grounds of the Southern house mosquito.

Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes Aegypti)

The yellow fever mosquito has a deadly history, transmitting the yellow fever that killed more U.S. troops during the Spanish-American war than the actual war itself.

The mosquito came from Africa, and now makes its home most commonly in Southern Florida and coastal cities of Texas and Louisiana, although it can be found all the way up the East Coast to New York. A competitor with the Asian tiger mosquito since the 1980s (when the Asian tiger mosquito first arrived in the U.S.), the yellow fever mosquito’s population is declining as the Asian tiger mosquito population grows.

The yellow fever mosquito thrives in stagnant water around cities and homes, and bites in the mornings and late afternoons, preferring people over animals.

Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes Albopictus)

And you thought mosquitoes only bite at dawn, dusk, or night. The female Asian tiger mosquito, unfortunately, is a daytime biter and very aggressive. And since they arrived on the U.S. scene in 1985, Asian tiger mosquitoes have been competing with (and beating) the yellow fever mosquito for rights to habitat.

Unlike the house mosquito who doesn’t care about things like cleanliness, the Asian tiger mosquito prefers clean, standing water. They’ll make your birdbath or flowerpot into a nice nursery for their larvae. Like the Southern house mosquito, Asian tiger mosquitoes won’t travel far, traveling only a half mile from their original breeding sites.

The Asian tiger mosquito transmits more than 30 viruses, but most do not affect humans. However, your dog could be in danger because this species transmits heartworm.

Preventing Mosquitoes

All four of the most common mosquitoes found in America breed in standing water, so one of the best ways to prevent mosquitoes from invading your yard and home is to remove any standing water on your property. If you notice that mosquitoes still don’t stay away, hire a reputable mosquito control company to take care of the problem for you.

Related Resources

Pest Control Tips

 

 

Related Posts

• Everything You Need to Know About Mosquito Bites
• Do You Feel Like a Mosquito Magnet?
• Why Mosquitoes Love to Bite Our Feet and Ankles
• How Your Diet Can Repel Mosquitoes
• A Look at The Things That Attract Mosquitoes

Are you one of those people that mosquitoes just can’t get enough of? While it’s nice to be wanted, it’s not your bubbly personality that’s bringing all the mosquitoes your way. No, mosquitoes are more attracted to certain humans than others for a variety of reasons. The kicker? You really only have control over a few of these reasons, and that’s why you’ll want to consider a professional mosquito control service to help with the reasons you can’t control.

Your Breath

Now, don’t get self-conscious. It has nothing to do with the garlic from today’s lunch. It’s about carbon dioxide, which is what you breathe out (regardless of what you ate for lunch). Carbon dioxide is the favorite attractant of pesky mosquitoes. They can even sniff it out from 50 yards away.

So, just the mere fact that you are a living, breathing human means mosquitoes will sniff you out.

The more carbon dioxide you emit (meaning, the bigger you are), the more attractive you are. That’s why adults are often targeted more than children. Pregnant women also exhale more carbon dioxide than others and are a particularly sweet treat for a mosquito.

Movement

Mosquitoes are also visual creatures, so they’ll gravitate towards someone they can see easily -meaning, if you’re moving, you’re much more visible. And you’re probably breathing heavier too, which means you’re exhaling more carbon dioxide.

Sweat

Mosquitoes really love people who have been sweating a lot, and not necessarily those who are currently sweating. They like the mixture of sweat with bacteria, so fresh sweat just isn’t as attractive to the discerning creatures. Unfortunately, the malaria-carrying mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, is the mosquito that’s most attracted to sweat.

If you’re moving, sweating, and breathing, you’re incredibly obvious to a hungry mosquito. That pretty much includes everyone, everywhere.

Blood Type

So, if you just hold your breath, don’t move, and don’t perspire, the mosquitoes will skip over you right? Not exactly. It depends on your blood type. A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that those with Type O blood were particularly attractive to mosquitoes.

How does that make you feel? A mosquito can actually sniff out your blood type. Like a vampire.

Good news if you’re Type A blood, though: You’re the least attractive to mosquitoes of all the blood types. Don’t take it personally, consider it a blessing.

Secretions

Most people (up to 80% of humans) secrete compounds through their skin called saccharides and antigen. If you’re a secretor, you’re attractive to mosquitoes. There’s nothing you can do to become a non-secretor as it’s determined by your biology.

Lactic Acid

Mosquitoes are attracted to people with a buildup of lactic acid on their skin. How do you get a buildup? By being active. Washing regularly will help to keep lactic acid off your body.

Stinky Feet

Earlier we told you not to be embarrassed about your breath. Stinky feet on the other hand is something you should be embarrassed about, and if you have stinky feet, mosquitoes will come a swarming. That’s a little embarrassing.

Preventing Mosquito Bites

Since much of mosquitoes’ attraction comes down to genetics, preventing mosquito bites may seem like a lottery you just can’t win. You can do things such as wash regularly, wear mosquito repellent, and stay away from areas where mosquitoes tend to congregate – like around standing water.

Chances are no matter how hard you try though you’re never going to keep mosquitoes away completely by your own efforts alone. Luckily, Barefoot Mosquito can help where you can’t and get rid of mosquitoes for you so that you can enjoy being outdoors in your yard this summer.

 

 

Related Posts

• Everything You Need to Know About Mosquito Bites
• How Your Diet Can Repel Mosquitoes
• Why Mosquitoes Love to Bite Our Feet and Ankles
• A Look at the Different Types of Mosquitoes
• A Look at The Things That Attract Mosquitoes

Recent reports of a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil are fueling concern over public safety and mosquito control. Because this is an ongoing case, researchers are still trying to understand how Zika works, who is at risk, and how to lower that risk using mosquito prevention. In this article, we will clear up your questions about what Zika is, including tips on how you can keep mosquitoes away to lower your chance of contracting the virus.

The History of the Zika Virus

The Zika virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947, and five years later the first human cases of Zika were detected. For decades, Zika appeared to be only a minor health concern, and it was confined to tropical areas in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

However, since that time, the Zika virus has migrated to South and Central America. In May 2015, Brazil saw its first confirmed case of the Zika virus. The number of reported Zika cases skyrocketed later in 2015, and on February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared Zika to be a public health emergency.

As of January 2016, the following countries have been impacted by native Zika infections: Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Paraguay, Panama, Puerto Rico, Martinique, San Martin, Surinam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Samoa, Venezuela, and Cape Verde. There have also been a couple of Zika virus cases reported in the United States, but these people contacted Zika while traveling, not in the United States itself.

How Is the Zika Virus Spread?

The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites, making mosquito control and mosquito prevention of top concern for populations in Zika infected areas.

More specifically, Zika is spread by two types of Aedes mosquitoes – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These types of mosquitoes live in tropical areas and feed on human blood. When a mosquito bites a person that is infected with Zika, it can then spread the blood (and, therefore, the virus) to the next people it bites. The Aedes mosquitoes are most active during the daytime, and people are urged to keep mosquitoes away as best they can to lower their risk of contracting the virus.

Zika Virus Symptoms and Risks

The Zika virus has historically been considered a mild disease and not something of great concern. According to the CDC, only about 20 percent of people who get the virus will even experience symptoms. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Rash
• Joint and muscle pain
• Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
• Headache

If symptoms occur, they happen between two to seven days after the mosquito bite and then last for a few days or up to one week.

With only about 20 percent of infected people experiencing mild symptoms, Zika had not been viewed as a major threat. However, with the Brazil outbreak, the virus was linked with more serious illnesses in newborn children. More specifically, pregnant women who had contracted the Zika virus were giving birth to babies with microcephaly, a neurological disorder characterized by babies with small heads and underdeveloped brains. Researchers are also seeing a possible link between the Zika virus and Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease that causes temporary paralysis.

Taken together, the recent evidence points to the importance of mosquito prevention for pregnant mothers or women who are looking to become pregnant. Mosquito control is important for this group, who are being advised to keep mosquitoes away to protect unborn children.

Zika Virus Treatment

The Zika virus is problematic because there are currently no treatments or vaccines available. This means we can’t prevent the virus, and we don’t have many options for dealing with it when someone contracts the virus. A series of blood tests can diagnose a person. After that, the doctor usually prescribes rest, fluids and pain medicine as the person’s body fights the infection typically within one week.

Because there is no treatment or vaccine available, the only effective means of reducing your risk is mosquito control and mosquito prevention.

Preventing the Zika Virus

As we speak, scientists are working on high-tech solutions to help prevent the spread of the Zika virus. For example, UK researchers are working on a genetically engineered Aedes aegypti mosquito – sterile mosquitoes that cannot spread the virus and could reduce wild mosquito populations by more than 90 percent. However, these high-tech solutions will take time and right now health officials say we should rely on traditional mosquito control solutions.

In particular, officials are urging pregnant women to avoid traveling to areas that have been affected by the Zika virus. If travel cannot be avoided, pregnant women should see a doctor both before and after their trip.

Beyond avoiding travel, people can practice basic mosquito prevention strategies to keep mosquitoes away. This includes:

• Wearing long sleeves and pants.
• Eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
• Staying inside places that have protections like windows or screens to keep mosquitoes out.
• Using insect repellents.

Barrier mosquito control systems are also an effective way to keep mosquitoes away so you can continue to enjoy the outdoors. Barefoot Mosquito offers 99% natural mosquito control system for Texas residents that eliminates up to 95% of the mosquitoes from your yard and focuses on reducing pesticide exposure to your family and pets.

The only way to really prevent the Zika virus is to completely eliminate exposure to any and all mosquitoes. This is hard, if not impossible, for most people to do. However, you can dramatically lower your risk of contracting the Zika virus by following proper mosquito prevention strategies.

In the coming months and years, we will undoubtedly hear more about the Zika virus as researchers learn more about how the virus works and its link to microcephaly in newborn babies. The overall message is that while we should not panic, we should stay well informed and follow traditional mosquito control tips to keep mosquitoes away and lower our risks of contracting Zika virus.

 

 

Related Posts

• Zika Virus Found in Mosquitoes in Miami Beach
• A Look at The Dangerous Diseases Mosquitoes Carry