Prevent Mosquito and Tick Bites

The Basics: Overview

Spending time together outdoors is good for the whole family. Don’t let bug bites ruin your fun.

Most bug bites are harmless, but some mosquitoes and ticks spread viruses and bacteria that can make you sick. Some of these viruses and bacteria are very serious – and may be deadly.

• Mosquitoes spread viruses like Zika, West Nile virus, chikungunya, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and dengue (“DEN-gee”) fever.
• Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are just 2 of the serious diseases you can get from ticks.

The good news is that you can take steps to protect yourself and your family from mosquito and tick bites.

Protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks.

When you spend time outside, take these steps to protect yourself:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to cover your skin.
• Use bug repellent (also called bug spray or insect repellent) on your skin and clothing.
• Check everyone for ticks after spending time outside.
• Take a shower after being outside to help wash away ticks.

Protect your pets, too.

• Use a veterinarian-approved tick collar or spot-on repellent on your pets. Dogs and cats need different tick control medicines, so make sure to get the right one.
• Remember to check your pets for ticks.

Take Action: Home Tips

Follow these tips to avoid getting bites from mosquitoes and ticks.

Keep mosquitoes away from your home.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water. To help keep mosquitoes away:

• Once a week, check items near your home that can hold water (like planters, birdbaths, or trash cans). Dump out the water and scrub the inside of the item.
• Get rid of things you’re not using that can collect water (like buckets, tires, or old toys).
• Change the water in your kids’ wading pool at least once a week. Be sure to store the pool on its side.
• Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside. Repair any holes in the screens.

Keep ticks away from your home.

Many types of ticks live in areas with woods, bushes, or high grass. Animals like mice, dogs, and deer may also carry ticks in their fur. To help keep ticks away from your home:

• Clear bushes, tall grasses, and fallen leaves from around your home. Mow the lawn often.
• Use wood chips or gravel to separate your patio or play equipment from wooded or brushy areas.
• Remove plants that attract deer and put up a fence to keep deer out of your yard.
• Consider applying tick control products to your yard. You can do this yourself or hire a pest control company.

Take Action: Use Bug Spray

Use bug (insect) repellent.

Bug repellent makes it harder for mosquitoes and ticks to find you.

What type of repellent do I need?

• To prevent tick bites, use a spray or lotion with 20 to 30% DEET. Check the label.
• To prevent mosquito bites, use an insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or para-menthane-diol (PMD).
• It’s a good idea to use sunscreen when you are outside, but use a separate sunscreen lotion. Don’t use bug repellent that has sunscreen already mixed in. 
• Use a spray with permethrin on your clothes, shoes, and camping gear to repel and kill ticks and mosquitoes. Never use permethrin directly on your skin.
• Get more information to help you find a bug repellent that's right for you.

How do I use bug (insect) repellent?

• Apply sunscreen first, then put on bug repellent.
• Spray it on your exposed skin before you go outside.
• Don’t spray repellent directly on your face. Instead, use your hands to carefully rub it on your face. You can also use wipes that contain bug repellent to protect your face.
• Don’t use repellent on babies under 2 months old. Instead, cover their stroller or car seat with mosquito netting.
• Don’t use OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
• Wash repellent off skin with soap and water when you go inside.

For more tips, check out this fact sheet about preventing mosquito bites [PDF - 700 KB].

Take Action: Cover Up and Check Yourself

Wear long pants, shirts with long sleeves, and socks.

Cover up your skin so that it’s harder for mosquitoes and ticks to bite you. This is especially helpful in the morning and evening when many mosquitoes often bite.

Take a shower after being outside in an area that might have ticks.

A shower can help get ticks off of you and lower your risk of Lyme disease. Try to shower within 2 hours of going back inside.

Check for ticks after spending time outside – even in your yard.

Check everybody in the family, including pets. Check the entire body, especially:

• Under the arms
• In and around the ears
• Behind the knees and in the groin (crotch)
• Around the waist and inside the belly button
• In and around hair

Get more tips on doing a tick check [PDF - 82 KB].

Take Action: Treat Tick Bites

Use tweezers to remove a tick as soon as you see it.

• Grab the tick near its head or mouth (the part closest to your skin).
• Gently pull the whole tick straight out. Be careful not to crush or twist the tick.
• Wash your hands and the bite with soap and water.
• Put rubbing alcohol on the bite.
• Don’t use a hot match to kill and remove a tick.

Get rid of the tick safely

Get rid of the tick by putting it in rubbing alcohol or flushing it down the toilet. You can also put a tick in the trash if it’s in a sealed container or wrapped tightly in tape. 

Remember, never crush a tick with your fingers. Get more tips on removing ticks. 

Tell the doctor if you get sick after a tick bite.

If you or your child gets a rash or fever after getting bitten by a tick, call the doctor. Tell the doctor about the tick bite, when it happened, and where you think you were when you got the bite. 

Take Action: Travel Safely

Protect yourself from mosquito bites when you travel outside the United States.

• Before your trip, find out if the country you are visiting has any travel health notices.
• Choose places to stay that have air conditioning or window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• If you are pregnant and traveling to an area with Zika, take steps to protect yourself from the Zika virus.

Learn more about preventing mosquito bites when you are traveling [PDF - 387 KB].