You can use repellent to protect yourself from the bites of disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes.
In NYC, ticks and mosquitoes are most active from May through October. Ticks are most commonly found in tall brush, leaf litter and grassy, wooded areas. The mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus typically bite between dusk and dawn.
Other types of mosquitoes in the city that are not known to spread diseases are most active during the day and aggressively bite in the morning and late afternoon. The number of these types of mosquitoes has risen in the city in recent years.
Use repellent both in NYC and when traveling outside the city. In wooded areas, you can repel ticks by treating your clothing and gear with products that contain 0.5% permethrin. You can buy clothing that has already been treated with permethrin at outdoor stores. Do not apply permethrin to your skin.
Most insect repellents need to be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Repellents with natural ingredients do not need to be registered. When used as directed, EPA-registered and CDC-recommended insect repellents are safe and effective, even for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Repellents can cause eye irritation. Some people may be more sensitive to repellents and develop skin reactions. To test a repellent, apply it to a small area of skin on your arm. Wait 24 hours to see if you have a reaction. If you think you are having a reaction, wash the repellent off as soon as possible.
Here are some more tips to stay safe while using repellent:
If mosquitoes are biting you inside, check window and door screens for holes that allow mosquitoes inside. If after checking mosquitoes are still biting, hire an exterminator certified by a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
When putting insect repellent on children:
Parents should talk to local school or day camp officials about how they use repellent in their facility. Only an adult should apply repellent to young children. If older children bring repellents with them, they should review the label with an adult prior to use.
You can find many types of insect repellents in NYC. Depending on the active ingredients, repellents last for different amounts of time. Generally, but not always, the higher the percentage of the active ingredient, the longer the protection time.
Carefully read the label to check if the product repels ticks, mosquitoes or both.
Repellents can be reapplied to add longer protection time. You should not exceed the maximum number of applications.
The Health Department recommends products with one of the following active ingredients:
Most repellents with natural ingredients have not been tested for safety or effectiveness. The Health Department does not recommend you use these repellents.
Examples of common ingredients found in repellents marketed as “natural” and not EPA-registered include: