FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Savannah Duke, M.S.
(334) 206-5971
CONTACT: Dee Jones, D.V.M.
(334) 206-5969
Summer months mean more time spent outdoors and fun in the sun for the entire family, but warmer months also bring unwanted visitors – ticks and mosquitoes. While most people think of ticks and mosquitoes as being only a nuisance, they can also transmit diseases, many of which can be extremely dangerous.
“Ticks and mosquitoes can transmit viruses and bacteria when they bite, causing illnesses that range from mild to severe or even fatal,” says Public Health Entomologist Savannah Duke.
West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis and Zika virus are diseases that mosquitoes can carry while Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are tickborne diseases that pose a threat to Alabama residents.
According to State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Dee Jones, “The best way to avoid getting a disease from a tick or mosquito is to reduce the risk of being bitten.” The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer the following recommendations for preventing tick and mosquito bites:
See your health provider if you think you have a mosquito or tickborne disease. If you are bitten by a tick, save it for identification and testing. Health providers who suspect mosquito or tickborne diseases in their patients can submit clinical specimens to the ADPH Bureau of Clinical Laboratories. Visit alabamapublichealth.gov/bcl. On the home page, click “The Analytes Offered by BCL” and then search under the “Microbiology” heading for more information.
To find out more about ticks and mosquitoes, visit the following resources:
County health departments throughout Alabama provide a wide range of confidential and professional services. Contact your local county health department for additional information.
Mission: To promote, protect, and improve Alabama’s health
Vision: Healthy People. Healthy Communities. Healthy Alabama.