3 tips to limit mosquito bites

As the mosquito-borne Zika virus spreads quickly through the Americas, medical experts are encouraging people to try to limit their exposure to mosquitos.

But as anyone who's come home from vacation or summer camp covered in itchy bumps knows, preventing mosquito bites is sometimes easier said than done.

“The first thing is avoiding the bite,” according to Ron Harrison, an entomologist for Orkin. “That means wearing clothing and using protectants.”

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To understand what repels the little biters, you need to know what attracts them.

"There are three things that a mosquito will hone in on when looking for a blood meal," said Jeff Hahn, a University of Minnesota entomologist. "Warmth is one, carbon dioxide is another, and then there's kind of a body odor that we give off."

Health officials aren't including the continental U.S. in their list of outbreak countries because the virus is not entrenched in local mosquito populations. But as the weather warms and mosquito activity increases there is more of a likelihood of exposure to Zika virus, though there are ways people can reduce their risk of being bitten, Harrison said.

Bug repellant 

The American Mosquito Control Association recommends three active ingredients: DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and picaridin.

Think of insect repellant like sunscreen. You should reapply often, especially if you are sweating and the spray is not waterproof, according to Harrison.

Mosquito experts say a higher concentration of DEET does not increase its effectiveness, it just lasts longer.

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The manufacturers of major insect repellents such as Off and Coleman are already ramping up production in anticipation of increased demand from U.S. customers once mosquito season hits during the spring and summer months.

Protect your home

When it’s warm people tend to leave their windows open and let the breeze in, but during the summer months it's important to use extra precaution to ensure mosquitos don’t make themselves at home, according to Harrison.

“Make sure there are screens," Harrison said. "Typically when mosquitos get inside, they don’t survive a long time, but you don’t want them to get inside."

Keep covered 

Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants to ensure as much skin as possible is protected by clothing.

While many mosquitos are most active at dusk and dawn, Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that carries the Zika virus, feed during the day as well, according to Harrison.

Even if it's hot, cover up. Or try to reduce your time outside.

Contributing: Liz Szabo and Hadley Malcolm