Repel ticks, skeeters when hiking

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Sept, 2004

If you plan on hiking or camping while the weather is still warm, remember to take along insect repellent and long pants, advise doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. A repellent, preferably one containing the active ingredient DEET, will help ward off mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus and other diseases. West Nile causes flu-like symptoms in infected persons. It can result in severe illness and even death.

Meanwhile, wearing long pants tucked into socks or boots as well as long-sleeve shirts will help protect against ticks, a Lyme disease transmitter. About 16,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported annually. A common symptom of the bacterial infection is pain and swelling of joints. That condition can become severe and chronic. The disease is rarely, if ever, fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using a DEET-based repellent also can reduce the risk of tick attachment, something to check for after each outdoor excursion.