Updated: July 06, 2017
THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT TICKS AND MOSQUITOES ARE NOW OUT IN FORCE AND LOOKING FOR FOOD, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO SPREAD A VARIETY OF SERIOUS, INSECT-BORNE DISEASES. OFFICIALS INDICATE THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE, A MOSQUITO OR TICK BITE DOESN'T CAUSE MORE THAN AN ITCHY, IRRITATING SPOT ON THE SKIN OR, SOMETIMES, MILD, FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS. BUT FOR OTHERS, A BITE CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ILLNESS SUCH AS ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER, WEST NILE, OR ZIKA VIRUS DISEASE. IN 2016, THERE WERE 581 CASES OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER IN TENNESSEE. IN 2016, MORE THAN FIVE DOZEN PEOPLE IN TENNESSEE WERE INFECTED WITH ZIKA WHILE TRAVELING TO OTHER COUNTIES WHERE THE DISEASE IS COMMON AND STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS WORKED SWIFTLY TO ENSURE ZIKA WOULD NOT BE SPREAD TO OTHERS. TO CUT THE RISK OF INSECT-BORNE DISEASE, KEEP GRASS TRIMMED AND PLANTS CROPPED AROUND HOMES. TIP AND TOSS OR DRAIN AND COVER OBJECTS NEAR YOUR HOME THAT CONTAIN STANDING WATER AS THIS IS A PRIME BREEDING GROUND FOR MOSQUITOES. USE INSECT REPELLANTS CONTAINING DEET, PICARIDIN, OR OIL OF EUCALYPTUS ON THE SKIN AND FOLLOW LABEL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USAGE. USE PRODUCTS CONTAINING THE INSECTICIDE PERMETHRIN ON CLOTHING, SHOES, AND CAMPING GEAR. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE WEBSITE TN.GOV/HEALTH.