Originally published August 30 2005
How to avoid contracting insect-borne diseases
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Be sure to defend against mosquitoes this summer, as they could carry West Nile, and also against ticks, which could carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a Kansas State University professor warns.
"We're in the big months for the culex mosquitoes," said Ludek Zurek, an assistant professor in the entomology department at Kansas State University.
Mosquitoes of the genus Culex are most likely to carry West Nile virus.
"It's definitely a good year for ticks," Zurek said.
Zurek said this year doesn't seem to be better or worse for any particular pest, but he did remind Kansans that some insects can cause disease as well as being a nuisance, and that summer bug season isn't over.
Only three human cases had been reported in Kansas as of Tuesday, the most recent report.
In Kansas, the greatest risks are Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.
Zurek said the risk of tick-borne diseases is fairly low, but if symptoms develop, it's best to see a doctor.
Lyme disease symptoms can include a red ring lesion on the skin, fatigue, fever and chills.
"What ticks like are high temperatures -- and we definitely have that now -- and they like it moist," Zurek said.
Itch mites agonized people in southeast Kansas last year, but Zurek is hoping Kansans will be spared this year.
Itch mites and chiggers, which are "a major nuisance," don't transmit disease, Zurek said, but can make a person miserable.
You can tell which was the culprit by where the bites are: Itch mites bite in a place that was bare or covered by loose-fitting clothing.
Chiggers prefer "tight" places, such as at waistbands or in the skin folds of the knees or armpits.
Zurek said Kansas has "a huge population of brown recluse spiders" but the number of people bitten is low in comparison because the spiders aren't aggressive and bite only when they feel threatened.
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