Fight the bite - even while you bundle up this winter

We’ve already had a couple of cold fronts this winter and temperatures have dropped below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Mosquitoes may be laying low for a bit due to the cold, but they don’t fly south for the winter. They remain a threat here in Miami Dade County, not just as biting nuisances, but also as vectors for potentially serious diseases like West Nile Virus, dengue and Zika.

Make protection your top priority because the threat of mosquito bites exists year-round.

Follow some simple tips to stay bite-free, protect yourself and your family during the cooler months.

• Cover exposed skin with long sleeves, pants, socks and shoes
• Use an EPA-registered mosquito repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR-3535 as the active ingredient
• Properly dispose of any unused items in your yard that may pool rain or irrigation water
• Periodically change out the water set out for your outdoor pets
• Clear out your rain gutters to prevent clogging and standing water that can facilitate breeding
• Maintain the proper chemical levels in your swimming pool all year round to prevent it from turning green and attracting mosquitoes