Health & Wellness

How to reduce your risk of mosquito bites and transmitted disease

August 4, 2023

Some of our favourite summer activities like camping, hiking or relaxing at the beach involve us coming into contact with mosquitoes.

This can lead to mosquito bites and potentially the transmission of diseases. Mosquitoes bite animals to drink their blood and the animals can pass diseases to them. One mosquito-borne virus that has been found in B.C., although rare, is West Nile virus. West Nile virus can be found in many species of birds. Humans can be infected by West Nile virus if they get bitten by a mosquito who has also bitten a bird that has the virus.

There are numerous precautions you can take to prevent infection from West Nile virus - or just avoid itchy mosquito bites.

Reducing mosquitoes around your home

To reduce mosquitoes around your home, remove any places where a mosquito might like to lay their eggs:

  • Look around for items that could collect water, like old tires, flower pots, wheelbarrows, barrels, tin cans, or even small containers like bottle tops that are outdoors
  • You can drill holes in the bottom of used containers so water can't collect
  • Empty wading pools after use
  • If you have water in your yard you’d like to keep, like a bird bath, change the water at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs or larvae before they become adult mosquitoes
  • For ponds and pools, prevent female mosquitoes from landing on the surface by making sure the water is moving, by using a pump or fountain, or having fish in your pond that can eat the mosquitoes, eggs, and larvae
  • Don’t forget to check eaves troughs, gutters, flat roofs, drains, and ditches for collected water

In addition, you can stop mosquitoes from getting in your home by using window and door screens to block their entry, and checking that they fit properly and don’t have any holes.

Preventing mosquito bites during outings

To prevent being bitten by mosquitoes if you’re venturing outside:

 

    Pick the proper gear
    • Wear long pants and shirts. Light coloured clothing is better than darker colours for mosquito bite prevention.
    • Use mosquito netting over cribs and strollers.
    Use insect repellent
    • Use an approved insect repellent. Check to make sure any insect repellent you buy is recommended by Health Canada – the most common and effective will contain DEET.
    • Apply approved insect repellent repellent on exposed skin as well as the outside of clothing, because some mosquitoes can bite through clothes.
    • Do not spray insect repellent or insecticide into the air or on the ground. Mosquitoes can easily avoid these sprays, while they can kill friendly bugs (including those that eat mosquitoes), and you don’t want to accidentally inhale the spray.
    If you do get bit, avoid scratching
    • If you or your child has many itchy mosquito bites, try not to scratch. If you damage your skin from scratching, you can get an infection, and the more you scratch the more it will itch!
    • To reduce the itch:
      • Try washing the bite with cool water and soap
      • Apply an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
      • Apply an anti-itch cream
      • Use a cool compress like an ice pack
      • Take an over-the-counter antihistamine
      • If you’re not sure which is for you, talk to your health-care provider

    Expert View: Dr. Carol Fenton, Medical Health Officer (Video)

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