AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – With these warm temperatures, you’re likely taking advantage of the sunshine outside.
But, the summer time means mother nature’s pests are also taking over.
If you’re going on a hike, the lake, or summer camp this summer, there’s a high chance you’ll have an encounter with mosquitoes or ticks.
That’s why local health experts want you to take the right precautions to protect yourself.
We caught up with some construction workers who have had to get used to the bugs clocking in 10-to-12-hour days.
“Man, they’ve been crazy so far man. But, just trying to do my best to keep them off of me to do my job,” said Jadyn Stephens.
“Yes, especially when it gets to about 5 or 6 o’clock when they come out, it gets a little rough out here sometimes,” Branson Parker said.
The spring and early summer months are the time of year where there is an increase in these types of bugs.
But a combination of Hurricane Helene, recent rainfall and humidity have led to an uptick in mosquitoes and ticks.
“After the hurricane, it really did bring about a lot more floodwater type mosquitoes that we haven’t seen previously,” said Mindy Kruty-Crothers, with the Georgia Department of Public Health in Richmond County.
Doctors are also seeing a rise in cases involving ticks.
“Ticks are certainly active in early spring and early summer,” said Dr. Morgan Thakore, a dermatologist at Doctor’s Hospital. “Most of the ticks that people are going to see are very, very small—they’re usually about the size of a poppy seed.”
Like mosquitoes, ticks can also carry various diseases—-another reason Thakore says you need to be cautious of them.
“Most of the time with ticks, people think of lime disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, but those are very uncommon in Georgia,” said Thakore. “Typically, lime disease is going to be in the Northeastern part of the United States, or Northern to Midwest states. So, it’s not typical to see that here unless somebody has traveled to those areas.”
They are harder to find than mosquitoes because they’re smaller in size, but dermatologists say protection for both types of bugs are similar.
“Even though it’s hot, wearing long-sleeved clothing, boots, closed-toed shoes and socks is the best way to prevent ticks from being able to find an attachment point on their body. If you are out hiking or in wooded areas, take a shower afterwards. That way if there is anything on you, you can wash it off quickly before it has a chance to attach,” Thakore said.
While you can usually swat a mosquito, she says there are misconceptions about the proper way to remove a tick if you see one on your body.
“The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it at the base of the skin—where the head is—and to gently (but forcefully) remove the tick. You want to try and get the head as well,” said Thakore. “You don’t just want to twist and jerk the body off, otherwise the mouth parts can break apart in the skin.”
Kruty-Crothers says it’s hard to prevent getting bit by mosquitoes altogether, but protecting yourself is key.
“We do want people to stay protected, because we do have mosquitoes that carry disease in our area, like West Nile virus. So, that would be the biggest reason why you’d want to avoid getting bit,” the director for mosquitoes and vector surveillance said.
“We try to remain in the shade by the trees, even though the mosquitoes are near the trees. But, we got a job to do at the end of the day,” said Jaheim Heath.
Doctors also recommend using deep bug spray to protect yourself as well.
If you put on sunscreen to protect your skin, they say you should put the sunscreen on before the bug spray.
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