Mosquitoes and Tick Information

Watch your step! Whether working, playing or just enjoying the outdoors, it is essential to limit your exposure to ticks. Ticks are capable of transmitting disease, but fortunately there are several tactics you can use to reduce your risk of tick bites and tick-borne disease exposure. Ticks like warm, humid environments and are readily found in high grass and wooded areas. To help avoid ticks, take these simple steps: walk in the center of trails, keep grass mowed and weeds cut, use a repellent with DEET (on skin or clothing) or permethrin (on clothing) and wear long sleeves, long pants and socks, wear light colored clothing so the ticks will be easier to see, and tuck your pant legs into your socks. Daily tick checks are recommended and should include full body checks of anyone that has been outdoors, including pets. If you find a tick attached, remove it by grasping as close to the skin as possible with tweezers and pulling straight up. Wash the affected area with soap and water immediately after removing the tick. If you have any questions, contact the Vinton County Health Department, 31927 State Route 93, McArthur or (740) 596-0473.

The Vinton County Health Department has been spraying for mosquitoes throughout the summer months.  You can report mosquito related issues as well as request for a location to be sprayed or for a location to not be sprayed by contacting us.  


West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquitoes.  To protect yourself and your children, reduce your exposure to mosquito bites.  The following are tips that you can follow to avoid mosquito bites:

  • Use EPA-registered repellents according to label instructions. 

  • Wear long sleeves, long pants and long socks when outdoors. 

  • Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with an EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection. 

  • Treat clothing and gear such as pants, boots, socks and tents with a product containing permethrin, or buy permethrin-treated clothing or gear. Do not apply permethrin directly to skin. 

  • Mosquito-proof your home: Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside. 

  • Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by emptying standing water on a regular basis from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths. 

 

Free at our office: Can of OFF Deep Woods, mosquito repellent bracelets, insect repellent wipes (pesticide free) and a variety of educational information on vector borne illnesses.