Prevent Mosquito Bites | Vermont Department of Health
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Prevent Mosquito Bites
Mosquito-borne Diseases
Mosquitoes in Vermont
Prevent Mosquito Bites
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Jamestown Canyon Virus
West Nile Virus
In Vermont, mosquitoes may be carrying viruses that cause diseases like
West Nile virus
(WNV),
Eastern equine encephalitis
(EEE) or
Jamestown Canyon virus
. The best way to prevent getting sick is by preventing mosquito bites.
Mosquito season begins in spring, but the risk for disease is highest in the summer months. The risk is lower when temperatures are below 60 degrees and mosquitoes are less active. Mosquito bites continue to be a risk until the first hard frost.
Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites
Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors at dawn and dusk.
Use
EPA-registered
insect repellent labeled as effective against mosquitoes. Apply repellent when you are going to be outdoors, especially at dawn or dusk.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
Treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
Cover baby carriages or outdoor playpens with mosquito netting.
Fix any holes in your screens and make sure they are tightly attached to doors and windows.
Get rid of standing water outside your home.
Learn more about mosquito bite prevention (CDC)
Important Links
Translated Information
Insect Repellent (EPA)
Prevent Tick Bites
Control Mosquitoes at Home
Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water that lasts more than four days. To reduce the number of mosquitoes around your house, get rid of standing water:
Dispose of, or regularly empty, any metal cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, and other water holding containers (including trash cans) on your property.
Dispose of, or regularly empty, discarded tires.
Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors so water can drain out.
Clean clogged roof gutters of leaves and debris that prevent drainage of rainwater.
Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
Change bird bath water every three to four days.
Aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish.
Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated.
Remove standing water from pool covers.
Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.
Kill Mosquito Larvae
Use
larvicides
to treat large bodies of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped out. Larvicides come in the form of dunks, bits, tablets, pellets, granules, briquettes, and liquids. When using larvicides, always follow label instructions.
Learn more about mosquito control at home (CDC)
"Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites" flyer:
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"Prevent Mosquito Bites" Video:
American Sign Language (ASL)
العربية (Arabic)
မြန်မာစာ (Burmese)
دری (Dari)
Français (French)
Kirundi
Mandarin
नेपाली (Nepali)
پښتو (Pashto)
Soomaali (Somali)
Español (Spanish)
Swahili
Tigrinya
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
"Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites" flyer
العربية (Arabic)
Bosnian
မြန်မာစာ (Burmese)
دری (Dari)
Français (French)
Kirundi
नेपाली (Nepali)
پښتو (Pashto)
Soomaali (Somali)
Español (Spanish)
Swahili
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Insect Repellents
Insect repellents can provide protection against both mosquitoes and ticks. Use repellents that are registered by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
. These products have been evaluated for their safety and effectiveness. Look for the EPA-registration number on the label.
Find an EPA-registered insect repellent (EPA)
Traveling overseas? Read more about what steps to take to prevent mosquito bites depending on your destination and activities.
Traveler's Health
Additional Resources
Mosquito Bite Prevention (CDC)
"Don't Let them Bug You" Flyer
Topics:
Outdoor Safety
October 6, 2025