How to reduce your risk of mosquito bites and transmitted disease

July 30, 2024

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.

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