Protecting yourself from mosquito and tick bites

In Québec, infected mosquitoes can transmit viruses to humans when they bite, such as the West Nile virus (WNV) and California serogroup viruses (CSV). Infected ticks can also transmit various diseases to humans when they bite, in particular Lyme disease, babesiosis and anaplasmosis.

Mosquitoes that carry viruses are found in the city or in the country, in wooded areas and forests. They can bite and transmit diseases at different times of the day.

Ticks can be found in both urban and rural areas, in tall grass, leaf litter, wooded areas, and forests. They can bite and transmit diseases as soon as the temperature reaches 4 °C (39 °F).

You must take measures, in Québec and elsewhere, to protect yourself from mosquito and tick bites during outings and outdoor activities, throughout the period when mosquitoes are active and as soon as the temperature reaches 4 °C (39 °F).

In other countries, mosquito bites can transmit WNV and CSG viruses, but also other viruses or parasites, such as:

• The Zika virus
• The chikungunya virus
• The Dengue virus
• The yellow fever virus
• The parasite that causes malaria

If you are travelling outside Québec, find out if there are mosquitoes and when they are most active.

For more information on the risks of acquiring infectious diseases while abroad, see the following web pages:

• Travel advice and advisories by destination
  Government of Canada
• Guide d’intervention santé-voyage - Situation épidémiologique et recommandations (in French only)
  Public health expertise and reference centre

The best way to protect yourself from diseases spread by mosquito bites is to avoid being bitten. Take the following measures to reduce the risk of being bitten:

• Wear long, light-coloured clothing when you go outdoors, especially at times when mosquitoes are active.
• Use mosquito repellent. Follow the instructions for using mosquito repellent
• Install proper mosquito nets on the doors and windows of your house, as well as on your tent and camping shelter
• Cover strollers and playpens with mosquito netting when they are outdoors.
• Actively seek to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your surroundings. To learn more, read Reducing the number of mosquitoes in your surroundings

The best way to protect yourself from diseases spread by tick bites is by avoiding being bitten.

To avoid tick bites when doing activities in forests, wooded areas, tall grass or parks:

• Wear long, light-colored clothing and cover yourself as best as possible (e.g. tucking the bottom of your pants into your socks)
• Use a DEET or icaridin-based mosquito repellent. Do so by following instructions for using mosquito repellent
• Walk along trails
• Maintain vegetation around your house, especially near children’s play areas

To find out more about measures to avoid tick bites and reduce the presence of ticks in your surroundings, go to the Protection and prevention section on the page Lyme disease.

Instructions

• Follow instructions on the product label and respect the application periods indicated
• Apply product in small quantities and only on areas of the body not protected by clothing
• Do not apply product on skin that is irritated or sunburnt, as well as on cuts and scratches
• Should the mosquito repellent go in your eyes, rinse immediately with water
• When you no longer need protection, wash your skin with soap and water
• Apply mosquito repellent again after going in water as it removes product from the skin

Instructions for using repellents on children

• Limit the number of mosquito repellent applications on children 12 years old and younger. Do not apply product near their eyes, mouth or hands. To prevent mosquito bites on their head or face, apply mosquito repellent on their hat or cap
• Do not allow children to apply mosquito repellent to themselves, always do it for them
• If you suspect that your child has an allergic reaction to a mosquito repellent, wash their skin and consult a doctor immediately. Show the doctor the product you have used

Mosquito repellent and sunscreen

If you need to protect yourself from mosquitoes and the sun at the same time:

• Apply the sunscreen first and let it penetrate your skin, preferably about 15 minutes, before applying mosquito repellent. This limits the amount of mosquito repellent absorbed
• Do not use products that claim to combine sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Sunscreen must be applied more generously and more often than mosquito repellent

Choose the right mosquito repellent

For greater efficiency, use a repellent recommended by age group.

There are many types of mosquito repellents with varying active ingredients. The active ingredients are what chases away mosquitoes and ticks.

To protect yourself from mosquito bites, it is recommended you use a DEET, icaridin, lemon eucalyptus, or soybean oil-based mosquito repellent. To protect yourself from tick bites, use DEET or icaridin-based products.

Do not use citronella-based mosquito repellents on infants and young children because these products generally offer less than 1 hour of protection. Other essential oil products last less than 2 hours and are not the best option for protection against mosquito bites. However, if approved, such products are an alternative for short periods of exposure for people older than 3 provided that instructions on the labels are followed. These products are not effective against ticks.

Use the table below to determine which repellent to use and how to use it safely.

Recognizing the active ingredients in repellents

Scientific names of active ingredients on product labels may vary:

• DEET is also known as ‘N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide’
• Icaridine is also known as ‘picaridine’ or ‘KBR 3023’

Lemon eucalyptus is also known ‘lemon eucalyptus oil’ or ‘p-menthane 3.8-diol’ (PMD). Lemon eucalyptus should not be confused with products that contain eucalyptus oil and lemon oil.

The protection time against tick bites is generally shorter than that against mosquito bites.

Some products are not very effective against mosquito or tick bites or do not have a long-lasting effect. They are not recommended. The list of products that are not recommended is available on Health Canada website .