Insects are Everywhere

You don't have to go on safari, trek deep into the woods or take up fishing in the North Country to come into contact with biting insects and ticks. Mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers and ticks can be found much closer to home.

Backyard decks, swings and sandboxes, neighborhood swimming pools, park recreation area, sports fields the beach and tennis courts-all are prime locations for close encounters of the "biting" kind.

The CDC reports that ticks, mosquitoes, lice, fleas and other insect pests cause illness, suffering, and death worldwide. Its experts suggest learning which insects are problems here at home, how to keep them away, and what to do if you are bitten.

West Nile virus, Lyme disease, encephalitis, malaria, dengue fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and others diseases occur across the United States, with the number of reported cases growing annually. Much more than just annoying, bites from infected mosquitoes and ticks can inject dangerous parasites and viruses into your body. These can produce rashes, fever, vomiting, convulsions, seizures, paralysis, coma and permanent brain damage and sometime are fatal. Some strains of encephalitis result in death for 10 percent or more of the people who contract them.