Collin County residents, it's time to prepare yourself for mosquito season! Mosquito season typically lasts from spring and into the fall. While many view mosquitoes as nothing more than a nuisance, we are here to tell you that the mosquitoes living in and around your community come with risks that could impact your health.

Mosquitoes are known to spread:

• Chikungunya Virus
• Dengue
• Malaria
  
• West Nile Virus
• Zika Virus

The Mosquitoes that spread viruses bite during the day and night and live indoors and outdoors. But there are steps Collin County residents can take to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe during mosquito season.

How you can fight the bite:

• Use Insect Repellant
  • Repellants should contain active ingredients such as -- DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
  • For extra protection, treat clothing with permethrin.
• Mosquito-proof your home
  • Use screens on windows and doors. Use air conditioning if available. Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near standing water.

Ways to protect babies and children:

• Always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children.
• Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Instead, dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
  • Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting
• Do not apply insect repellent onto a child's hands, eyes, mouth, cuts or irritated skin.
  • Adults: spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child's face.