The month of April to September usually marks the mosquito season in Austin, Texas. The prevalence of mosquito-related illnesses can be blamed on mosquito pools, which are quite many in the area. With all this news telling us of strange strains of mosquito-borne viruses, it is high time to take serious precautions.
Since the season has already started, you have to be 100% sure that your family is safe, especially since the Chikungunya virus has already reached the area, as reported by kxan.com:
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ first case of chikungunya, a viral disease spread by mosquitoes, has been confirmed in a Williamson County resident.
The Department of State Health Services says the patient recently came back to Texas after a trip to the Caribbean where the disease has been found in humans since 2013.
There have been no reports of the disease spreading locally.
The disease cannot be directly transmitted from person to person, however, it can be spread by mosquitoes.
“To prevent the spread of the disease, people with chikungunya illness should be especially careful to avoid exposure to mosquitoes during the first week of illness,” the SDHS said in an announcement Monday.
Below are some of the things that you can do to avoid getting bit by mosquitoes this season:
- Avoid mosquito habitats. As much as possible, do not go to areas where mosquitoes are likely to swarm. Places where there the water is stagnant.
- Cover your skin. If you don’t want to get bitten cover as much of your skin, when possible.
- Use insect repellant. Apply this on areas that are not covered by your clothing. Look for repellants that contain 30% to 50% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide).
- Have some mosquito nets. If you’re going to be camping or sleeping outdoors, these are a must-have.
- Check your home for possible habitats. Make sure that your home does not provide an ideal place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs.
- Mind your roof. Thoroughly check your roof because there are certain parts where water tends to stagnate easily, especially if it has a gap or missing shingles. Hire professional roofers in Austin TX like Lone-Star Roof Systems to do this for you because an untrained eye may miss it.
We believe that keeping your roof in good shape is essential to ensuring the protection of your home and family. That is why our Dallas roofing contractors take the inspection of your home seriously. Among the things we focus on are missing, loose, or worn shingles or tiles that can be breeding area for mosquitoes. So call us at Lone-Star Roof Systems, LLC, and stay safe this critical mosquito season.
(Article Excerpt from WilCo resident is Texas’ first Chikungunya case, KXAN)