How can I protect my family from insect-borne diseases?

• Apply insect repellent when you are going to be outdoors during mosquito season, and keep in mind that mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk.
• Use proven repellents that contain DEET, Picardin, 3,8-diol — they provide protection from mosquito bites.
• If you'll be outside at a particularly buggy time, wear shoes, socks, a hat, long pants and long sleeves to give mosquitoes the least access to your skin.
• Keep window screens closed where possible, to ensure mosquitoes can't get in. If you don't have screens, use indoor repellents such as mosquito nets and Raid® liquid electric.
• Stop mosquitoes from breeding near your home by managing standing water (that's where they lay eggs!). Empty buckets, gutters and other receptacles. Cover wading pools, keep pools and fountains clean, and change water in bird baths frequently.
• Watch for public advisories related to malaria, dengue, West Nile Virus and other diseases that could be peaking in your area.