Summer Survival Guide 4: Keep your family safe from mosquitoes

The first case of Zika virus has hit Riverside County, and the mosquitoes capable of carrying it have been found in the Coachella Valley.

From West Nile to Zika and Malaria, mosquitoes are plentiful, and carry viruses that can make you and your family very sick.

“In the summer we’re used to using sunscreen,” says Ruth Ibarra of Cathedral City, “But we never really think about using mosquito repellent.”

Bill Walton, a professor of entomology at UC Riverside and vice president of the American Mosquito Control Association, says we should start thinking about it.

“I got infected by a virus and i’ll tell you it’s something I never want to happen again,” he says.

Walton explained what does and does not work to keep the bugs from biting.

One thing that doesn’t? Those repellent bracelets that can be purchased from convenience stores.

But Walton says repellent spray can work wonders.

“DEET is sort of the gold standard as far as the repellency of mosquitoes,” he advises.

As far as citronella candles are concerned, Walton says mosquitoes don’t like smoke but they don’t mind citronella.

Mosquitoes are attracted to the scent that’s emitted when a person drinks alcohol, so refraining is a good idea if you’re prone to getting bitten.

“If they’re out at dusk they should be wearing long sleeves, and preferably long pants,” he adds.

There’s some evidence mosquitoes are less attracted to light colors when they lay eggs, so opt to wear white. Repellent wipes are good, and Walton says, “eliminate any standing water around your house. It could be an incredibly small amount of water.”

The new strain of mosquitoes carrying Zika can reproduce in something as small as a bottle cap or a water bowl, and keep those screens repaired and closed, because they can also breed inside in places like drip pans from small houseplants.

Outside, storm drains filled with organic material like lawn clippings become hidden bodies of water, and Walton says, “provides the soup that’s just ideal for these West Nile vectors. It would be worth it for the citizens in the neighborhood to call the (vector control) district and apprise the district, ‘hey we’ve got a storm drain that’s holding water, do you know about it?'”

Ultimately staying away from areas where mosquitoes make their homes can keep people out of harms way, especially at dusk and dawn.

Two positive West Nile mosquito samples were just identified at Demuth Park in Palm Springs, where dozens of families were playing at sundown.

“I don’t know when we would practice. there are tons of kids out here playing soccer or baseball. it’s either bear with the heat or bear with the chance of getting bit,” laments Ibarra, whose son Freddy plays baseball in the evenings.

“I’m going to be buying some type of repellent, and even if we have to spray all of our boys, we will,” added Evie Wilborn, who coaches the kids.

Here’s what to know about Zika virus.

Has West Nile been detected in your neighborhood? Find out here: