State officials urge residents to take steps to avoid insect-borne diseases

With the arrival of warmer weather, state officials are urging residents to take measures to reduce their risk of contracting insect-borne diseases. 

April is Tick and Mosquito Awareness Month, a time when North Carolina launches its own “Fight the Bite” campaign.

Officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are reminding residents that tick bites can cause serious illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Ticks are usually found in wooded, grassy, and brushy areas.

"The best thing to do is to always check yourself for the presence of ticks whenever you're out in the woods," said Wes Watson, an entomologist with the North Carolina State University Extension program. "Take precautions, wear light-colored clothing, you can tuck your trousers into your socks... and also wear repellent."

Common mosquito-borne diseases in North Carolina include West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

It’s recommended that residents reduce mosquito breeding by regularly emptying standing water from areas such as flowerpots, birdbaths, and gutters.