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Infographics: Prevent Bug Bites

Prevent bug bites infographic

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Avoid Bug Bites

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Prevent Bug Bites
Evite las picaduras de insectos (Spanish)

Infographic Description

Prevent Bug Bites

What to know before you go. Bugs can spread diseases.

Travelers to tropical and other destinations should take steps to prevent bug bites.

  • Protect yourself.
    • Wearing insect repellent with at least 20% DEET protects against mosquito and tick bites.
    • Use insect repellents according to package directions, and reapply as directed. Higher percentages of the active ingredient provide longer duration of protection.
  • Apply protection. When applying both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply sunscreen first, let it dry, then apply insect repellent.
  • Other ways to prevent bug bites:
    • Wear long sleeves and pants.
    • Use permethrin-treated gear and clothing.
    • Sleep in places that are air conditioned or screened against bugs.
    • Sleep under a bed net if sleeping area is exposed to the outdoors.
  • Examples of diseases spread by bugs:
    • Mosquitoes: dengue, chikungunya, malaria, Zika, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis
    • Ticks: African tick-bite fever, Mediterranean spotted fever, tickborne encephalitis
    • Other: scrub typhus (chiggers), plague (fleas), sleeping sickness (tsetse flies)
  • See a doctor if you get sick after traveling and tell the doctor you traveled.

For more information: call 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) or visit www.cdc.gov/travel

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