Diseases carried by insects a continued concern in Erie County

This fall, stay vigilant in preventing tick and mosquito bites

Rain and warm weather, which Western New York has experienced in the last few weeks, provide great conditions for mosquitoes to breed and multiply. This is also a time of year when ticks are still active. Preventing bites from these insects should remain a priority for people who spend time outside, especially until winter weather returns.

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) reminds residents that ticks and mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases. Ticks can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease and other parasites that cause more rare illnesses.

Mosquitoes, in addition to being an itch-causing menace, can carry West Nile Virus (WNV). New York State Department of Health conducts testing of mosquito pools in Erie County, and their surveillance data has shown WNV in local mosquito populations for multiple years. Most WNV infections are asymptomatic or mild and are not diagnosed or officially confirmed. In rare cases WNV can cause very severe symptoms, and that risk increases with age. One WNV case has been confirmed in an Erie County resident in 2026.

People who travel to other parts of the country or world with warm and wet climates can also be at risk of other mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria, chikungunya, yellow fever and dengue fever; when traveling, avoid insect bites as much as possible to reduce your risk of disease.

Mosquito populations can be controlled, and there are simple measures that people can take to reduce their risk of mosquito bites.

The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

• Use EPA-registered insect repellent that contain DEET or picaridin; avoid spraying in eyes and follow product instructions for use. These products are safe and effective, even for pregnant or breastfeeding people.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants; clothing and gear treated with permethrin offers additional and longer protection.

• Stay inside at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

• Repair windows, window screens and doorways to fix any gaps that could let mosquitoes inside.

To control mosquito populations on your property:

• Dispose of water-holding containers, used tires, and yard waste properly.

• Ensure outdoor recycling bins drain, clean gutters, and eliminate standing water by draining or filling low areas.

• Turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.

• Change birdbath water twice a week.

• Maintain pools, hot tubs, and fountains with cleaning and chlorine.

To reduce risks of tick bites and tick-borne illness:

• Mow, clear and remove: Regularly remove grass, leaves and debris and keep woodpiles stacked neatly away from the house, off the ground if possible

• Deer-proof your lawn: Remove plants that attract deer to discourage them from entering your lawn and bringing ticks

• Protect play areas: Keep playgrounds, sandboxes, benches and sitting areas away from shrubs, buses and vegetation

• Tick control: Tick control can be applied by a homeowner or professional pest control expert; follow label directions.

When You Are Outside:

• Cover skin and use repellents: Wear long sleeves and long, light-colored pants; tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks.

• Repel ticks on exposed skin with repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin or IR3535. Do not use on children younger than two months. Use according to instructions on the label.

• Treat clothing, socks, shoes, boots, and camping gear with products that contain permethrin; do not use this on skin. It can remain protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.

• Avoid direct contact with ticks.

• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.

• Walk in the center of trails: stay on cleared trails when walking or hiking, and avoid the edge habitat where ticks are likely to be.

• Talk to your veterinarian about effective tick control options.

• Check yourself, kids and animals for ticks after going outside.

• Do not let pets wander or spend time in brush or wooded areas. They can bring ticks inside and expose humans or other animals to tick bites and tickborne infections.

Find and Remove Ticks from Skin

• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you.

• Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair.

• Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day packs.

• Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks effectively. If the clothes cannot be washed in hot water, tumble dry on low heat for 90 minutes or high heat for 60 minutes. The clothes should be warm and completely dry.