How Houston-area residents can protect themselves

As summer approaches, the arrival of warmer weather will bring an increase in one of Houston’s most notorious nuisances: mosquitoes.

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The Houston area is no stranger to mosquitoes, as it is ranked the seventh most mosquito-infested city in the United States, behind cities like Los Angeles, New York and the Dallas-Fort Worth area of ​​Texas, according to a report from Terminix. The city was placed behind Washington, DC. The pest control company created the list based on service data from last year.

But there’s no need to become phobic just yet.

Here’s what to know and how to prepare for mosquito season in the Houston area.

Among male and female mosquitoes, the female is the only one that bites, said Sonja Swiger, an entomologist at Texas A&M AgriLife. The female mosquito needs blood to develop her eggs and create more mosquitoes.

Some people attract mosquitoes more than others, Swiger said.

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“There are lots of different resources and research papers that say this and that…but it comes down to CO2, because we all produce our own CO2,” she said. “And (mosquitoes) have an attraction to that…sometimes it’s about smell. Research has shown that some mosquitoes get used to a certain smell and like people who smell a certain way. “

Some research suggests that mosquitoes are attracted to certain blood types, according to a Phizer article.

“There’s really nothing we can say, ‘This is why you get a little more than others,’” Swiger said. “It’s just something that we know is happening.”

There are several ways to protect yourself from mosquitoes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should use insect repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and clothing and equipment treated with Permethrin.

The CDC has a list of recommended repellents to use, such as DEET; Picaridin, IR3535, lemon eucalyptus oil, para-menthane-diol and 2-undecanone.

When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents have been shown to be safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women, the CDC website states.

While this doesn’t completely protect you from mosquitoes, it’s the best way to keep them from biting you, Swiger said.

Hopefully no one gets nauseated easily.

But the reason mosquito bites tend to itch is due to the saliva of the mosquitoes themselves, Swiger said.

“In order for them to actually take the blood, they literally have to spit on us,” she said. “So they exude a little bit of saliva into us to help regulate that blood flow and make sure that most of the time you don’t feel the bite.”

The healing process from a mosquito bite varies between people, Swiger said.

“There’s a lot of variation in that,” she said. “Some people’s reaction can be very short-lived, and sometimes several days. And then, if they scratch too much, that could lead to a secondary infection. So there’s kind of a spread of how it all happens .to last. Unfortunately, it really depends on the person.

People who have an allergic reaction to mosquito bites can purchase an over-the-counter ointment to help, such as anti-itch cream.

Mosquitoes are considered one of the deadliest animals in the world, according to the CDC. By spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya and lymphatic filariasis, the mosquito kills more people than any other creature in the world, the website says.

“The entire United States takes care of West Nile, apart from anything else,” Swiger said. “But we’re also seeing an increase in cases of demgue. And dengue is now circulating pretty regularly in Puerto Rico and it’s been circulating in Florida for a few years…so that’s something we’re monitoring as well…so it won’t be not a problem in Texas.”

The stings can take several days before our bodies begin to react to them, Swiger said.

If a person begins to have trouble breathing, they should seek medical attention because it could be a reaction to the bite, she said.

“If you can, avoid places that have large numbers of mosquitoes, because right now many areas are overrun or crowded,” Swiger said. “So try to avoid those areas as much as possible, unless you need to be outside in those kinds of conditions. And then try to get rid of any standing water where possible.”