he best protection against vector borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, human granulocytis ehrlichiosis, encephalitis, malaria, dengue fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, is prevention and the only sure way of protecting yourself is to apply a DEET-containing insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing as directed. Choose an EPA-approved product appropriate to the region and activity you are engaged in and take these precautions:

Reapply repellent after exercise or swimming or as directed on product.
Eliminate standing water near your home.
Minimize exposure to mosquitoes by staying inside from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes bite.
When hiking, stay on main trails and avoid walking in brush where ticks like to hide.
Wear light colored clothing covering most of your body. This makes it easier to spot ticks. Shirt collars and sleeves should be snug against the skin. Tuck shirts into pants and pant legs into socks.
Inspect for ticks: Some are about the size of the period in a sentence and crawl towards exposed skin. If you spot a tick attached to your body, remove it with tweezers.
Ticks are most active from April through October in the U.S., so be vigilant during those months.
Be aware of the symptoms of insect-transmitted diseases. Seek medical attention if you experience flu-like symptoms after being outdoors.

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