This is a sponsored post in partnership with The Motherhood on behalf of Texas Department of State Health Services.
The mosquito season down here in Texas isn’t limited to just a few months! Check out these simple steps to prevent mosquito bites and the Zika virus.
We love living in Texas!
We are so crazy about the weather down here! No more shoveling snow for us! HA! The sunshine is just gorgeous and we are determined to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
The kids spend a ton of time in our backyard climbing our play fort, riding their bikes, going for walks, exploring parks, and as often as possible at the lake and beach.
All of my children love to spend time outside. That makes my mommy heart so happy as I was an outdoor kind of girl growing up. I am a firm believer that being outside is an essential part of childhood.
That being said… What about those pesky mosquitos and the Zika virus that has been talked about?
Mosquitos LOVE my kids and I! I mean… they really, really love us! I don’t know why, but my kids and I seem to attract mosquitos more than the average person.
It’s mosquito season down here in Texas most of the year and I took to the internet to find out what I could do to prevent mosquitos from eating my kids and I ALIVE. I found quite a LOT of information and more importantly learned about the Zika Virus.
Are you like me and heard a few mentions of the Zika Virus, but really don’t know what it was or what the risk is? I did some research and here are some answers to the questions I had.
Is it really a problem?
Yes. You should be concerned about mosquitos and the potential that they carry the Zika Virus.
Thankfully, the reported cases have been fewer this year, but we aren’t out of mosquito season yet here in Texas! All of the extra rain this year has caused concern about higher risks of mosquitos carrying the virus.
Year-round warm weather in many parts of Texas leads to a year-round mosquito season. Cold weather may limit mosquito activity, but the quick return of warm weather will mean a return of the mosquitos!
When you plan your trips for spring break and the summer, be sure to be aware of your destinations and the risk of the Zika virus.
If you vacation in a Zika hot spot, continue to use insect repellent for at least 21 days. If you have ben infected with Sika, this will prevent a mosquito from biting you and spreading the virus to your family and comunnity.
Can you only get Zika from a mosquito bite?
No. In some cases, it can be spread through blood transfusion and most concerning, it can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy which can lead to serious birth defects.
You can learn more information HERE.
Here are Simple Steps to Prevent Mosquito Bites & the Zika Virus
1. Wear EPA – approved insect repellent
2. Keep your screens in good repair and don’t leave any doors open allowing mosquitos in your home.
3. Cover up your body as much as possible. Wear long sleeve clothing and pants.
4. Look for standing water around your home. Drain standing water or treat with larvicide.
Examples: gutters, pet water bowls, kiddie pools, plant pots, kids outdoor toys, etc…
5. Use mosquito nets to protect infants younger than two months when outdoors.
For more information on how to avoid Zika and protect yourself and family from mosquito bites visit HERE.
If you are pregnant, you should take extra caution to protect yourself and visit this site for additional resources and recommendations. Serious birth defects can occur to a baby born affected by the Zika virus.
This post is not meant to scare you! I am not hiding doors with my kids. We are still outside for hours at a time, pretty much every day of the week.
I am implementing these simple steps to prevent mosquito bites & the Zika Virus with my family.
The kids and I went through the backyard and dumped out water that had collected in the toy bins and sand toys, we have insect repellents right by the back door so we don’t forget to spray everyone, and I am working on making sure they keep their shirts on while playing!
My boys love being shirtless in the backyard! HAHAHA!
My favorite way to learn and educate is through videos.
Learn about the Mosquito-borne virus and why you should protect yourself:
Find Simple Tips for Zika Prevention:
If you still have concerns or want more information the Texas Department of State Health Services is a huge resource.
If you need me, I’ll be in the yard, pushing the girls on the swing and dodging dart gun bullets…because the boys set up another fort and no one gave me a dart gun…
Happy Sunshine,
Keikilani
Jamie says
Great info and advice on preventing mosquito bites! I’m one of those people who mosquitoes love so I need to remember these tips! I’m also going to add a mosquito net to my baby registry now!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
These are great tips! Between West Nile and Zika, it’s more important than ever to keep mosquitoes away from kids. AND the reset of us, for that matter.
Nicole Aguilar says
Great tips. I saw a sign for West Nile in my town a few weeks ago and I freaked out!
Milena says
I didn’t know all of these facts about the Zika virus. Prevention is key here! Those nasty bugs!
Andrea says
Great tips on preventing mosquito bites and he dreaded Zika virus. I’m glad to hear fewer cases have been reported in your area. The mosquitos love me as well, so I love tips!
Cyn Gagen says
These are great tips. The Zika virus makes me so nervous. It’s not as prevalent where I live but a few cases have occurred. Between that and West Nile and Lyme disease – yikes! You almost want to stay inside permanently.
NYCTechMommy says
The kiddos got some nasty mosquito bites this past summer. I need to remember all these tips for next summer. So important to keep the kids safe and prevention is key!
Rebecca Bryant says
this is great info as we have had an increase in bugs since Irma. Thank you for this I really needed to know how to keep the skeeters away.
Carol Cassara says
This is very good information, for everyone and not just for parents. Zika virus is something that we should be aware of and we should definitely know how to protect ourselves from it.
Ashley Mullins says
I’m a mosquito magnet. Luckily, I’m not sure of any cases of Zika in my area but I’m sure there could be. Thanks for these tips.
Kathy says
It’s so important to protect yourselves. I’ve heard a lot about mosquitoes lately. They’re definitely carrying some viruses. I do what I can to protect my family from them.
Emily says
This is all really helpful information! I did not know that zika could he passed through a blood transfusion. It is such a scary disease, so this is all really helpful.
Marysa says
I feel like I get bitten more than other people. I think maybe because I am a vegetarian or something, or because I eat a lot of bananas. These are great tips, my kids dread mosquito season!
Stacie says
These are great tips. The world is changing, and it seems like it becomes more and more dangerous every day. Heck, we’re even getting tropical diseases in the states now!
Jeanette says
My son and I are so apt to getting mosquito bites that we try everything we can to make sure we don’t get them. I think I will definitely try a few of the items you said here. We are going to the Caribbean over the summer and it is definitely something to think about.
robin rue says
We live in the woods and mosquitoes are a real threat. My town is the home of west nile and EEE every single summer.
Melissa Chapman says
I learned a lot from this and have not been worrying about zika from mosquitos until now. Our season starts in a few weeks so I will be extra cautious.
Liz Mays says
I definitely wouldn’t want to catch something from the mosquitoes around here so this is helpful. It’s good to take precautions.
Jenna M Wood says
Thanks for the reminder, we definitely need to patch some of the screens around our home. I never knew the risk was so prevalent!
Amy says
Since we have a lot of wetlands, ponds, and streams, I need to be be very careful. I am thinking about spraying my yard this year.
Dawn Lopez says
I can’t even tell you how much I totally despise mosquitos! I’m going to be sure the screens are all bug proof this year before mosquito season begins. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Sinisa says
Great tips. We only have issues with mosquitoes in the summer but Zika and west Nile are serious worries for all.