Mosquito Bite Prevention

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Mosquito Bite Prevention

Mosquito-borne diseases may cause serious illness, but you can protect yourself and your family by getting rid of mosquito breeding areas around your home and avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Fight the Bite and keep mosquito-borne diseases out of Hawaii by following these simple steps.

 

Prevent mosquito breeding areas and help to eliminate mosquitoes.

We need to work together to eliminate and prevent mosquito breeding areas by removing standing water around our homes and neighborhoods, as well as near our workplaces and open spaces in the community.

  • Get rid of standing water in buckets, puddles, wheelbarrows, and bins.
  • Fix leaky faucets and hoses that are dripping water.
  • Flush or dump out water from bromeliads and other leafy plants once a week.
  • Clean out gutters so water can run freely.
  • Clean up trash and debris, for example, dispose of old tires.
  • Repair screens and windows to keep mosquitoes out.

 

Prepare carefully for travel, especially to regions where these diseases may be spreading.

Travelers—both residents and visitors—may unknowingly bring mosquito-borne diseases to Hawaii. With threats of mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika, dengue fever, and chikungunya, circulating rapidly in Central America, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific, people need to prepare wisely for travel and take precautions, especially pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant.

  • Check before leaving if there is a risk of Zika, dengue, or chikungunya at your destination.
  • Both men and women traveling in areas where Zika is spreading should adopt safe sex practices (i.e. using a condom) to prevent infection through sexual transmission.
  • Avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, especially if you are pregnant.
  • Visit the CDC Travelers’ Health webpage for notices and warnings at cdc.gov/travel.

 

Protect yourself and your family from being bitten by mosquitoes.

The best way to prevent any mosquito-borne infections is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. There are currently no mosquito-borne diseases spreading locally in Hawaii. However, Hawaii does have two types of mosquito species that can transmit diseases if they bite someone who is infected.

  • Apply mosquito repellent on exposed skin, especially if outdoors. Repellent should be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and contain 20-30% DEET (active ingredient). Other alternative active ingredients may include picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. To find the insect repellent that is right for you, visit the EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-insect-repellent-right-you.
  • Whenever possible, wear protective clothing, such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks, and shoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors so wear light-colored clothing as much as possible.
  • Avoid activities in areas that attract mosquitoes, such as shady and damp locations, especially during sunrise and sunset when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Learn more about the Fight the Bite initiative and preventing mosquito-borne diseases in Hawaii.

 

Additional Resources