Mosquitoes and tick bites can take the fun out of summer. Not only pesky and itchy, bites from these critters can also cause serious diseases such as West Nile Virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease.
A small bite can lead to big problems, but the good news is, you can outsmart ticks and mosquitoes!
Consider sharing the poster attached below with your community.
BEFORE THE BITE
- Use mosquito repellent containing DEET (or equivalent) when outside. Use caution when applying to children. Click here for a list of EPA-approved repellents.
- Consider treating clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, an insecticide used to control insects that can last up to 6 washes before needing another round of treatment.
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors and use air conditioning if possible.
- "Tip and Toss" – reduce mosquito breeding by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths at least once a week.
- Inspect surrounding trees for tree holes, which are considered a major breeding ground for mosquitoes. More information on treating tree holes can be found here.
- Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks if you have been in a tick habitat, such as tall grass. Check more than once!
- Reduce tick habitats in your yard by keeping the lawn short, removing leaf litter, and trimming brush.
AFTER THE (POSSIBLE) BITE
- Remove ticks immediately using clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Common hiding places include ears, the head, hair, around the chest, around the groin, the belly button, the waist, and any other crevices.
- If you get a tick bite, note it on a calendar, including the date, time, and size of the bite mark.
- Call your medical provider if you think the tick was attached to you for several hours, if you see a rash develop at the site of the tick bite or other areas on your body, if you develop flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, or if you have pain or blistering.
- While most mosquito bites go away on their own, they can cause severe illness, including West Nile Virus. See a doctor if you get mosquito bites followed by high fever, severe headache, body aches, and signs of infection.
NEW IN 2025
Lyme Disease now regularly occurs in Northwest North Carolina. As a result, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP or preventive treatment) for Lyme disease is recommended under specific circumstances for persons residing or traveling in the following counties: Buncombe, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, and Stokes.
- Lyme disease PEP with a single dose of doxycycline should be considered under the following circumstances:
- The attached tick is identified as a deer tick (aka blacklegged tick)
- Tick is estimated to have been attached for more than 36 hours based on the degree of engorgement or time of exposure
- Treatment is started within 72 hours of tick removal
- The bite occurred in an area where Lyme disease is common
Common Questions About PEP:
Should I take PEP if I find a tick on me that isn’t attached?
No.
Should I take PEP if the tick bite is not from a deer tick?
No.
Should I take PEP if the attached tick was not engorged?
No
Should I take PEP if the tick was removed more than 72 hours ago?No. If it is too late for PEP, monitor for symptoms, rash, fever, headache, and seek care if they occur.
Important: Even without a known tick bite, seek care if you develop a bullseye rash or if you develop an unexplained fever during tick season.
Please help us Fight the Bite! If you have concerns about mosquitoes in your neighborhood, contact Environmental Health at 828-250-5016.
For more information about encephalitis or mosquito-borne viruses contact the Disease Control Division of Buncombe County Department of Health at 250-5109.