Now that warmer weather is here, it’s important to take precautions against mosquito and tick bites. While we, in Michigan, are at a low risk for Zika, Michigan mosquitoes can carry illnesses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and ticks can carry illnesses such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Those with the highest risk of illness caused by WNV are adults 50 years of age and older, but we’re not just talking people. Horses and other animals can be targets for mosquito-borne viruses such as EEE and our dogs and cats are susceptible to tick-borne diseases like Lyme Disease. Mosquitoes could also carry the heartworm larvae.
The easy answer is to avoid these little miscreants, but we love our outdoor activities. Avoiding ticks is a bit easier than mosquitoes. During May, June, and July, if you are in tick infested areas, walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges.