How to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases
You can prevent mosquito bites by covering up, going inside when the mosquitoes are out, and using insect repellant. You can cover up by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and using mosquito netting if you are sitting or sleeping outside. EEE and West Nile are transmitted by mosquitoes that are active from dusk to dawn, so going inside in the evening and sleeping inside can reduce your exposure.
You can reduce your exposure to insect repellents by applying them to your clothing rather than your skin. The DPH recommend using a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus:
More information on choosing and using repellents safely is included in the MDPH Mosquito Repellents fact sheet which can be viewed online at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito .
Articles:
How to reduce mosquito habitats
How to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases
Using pesticides to prevent mosquito-borne diseases