With the warmer temperatures, more bugs are out and a health expert in Dallas County outlines tips to avoid contracting illnesses.

Community Health Educator Natalie Peters explains that deer ticks are popular in Iowa and are known for carrying Lyme Disease, while mosquitoes usually transfer West Nile Virus to people. She stresses that in order to protect yourself from the bugs, people are recommended to use insect repellent with ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus; wear protective clothing in wooded areas, and remove any standing water around your home to discourage mosquitoes from nesting their breeding grounds. Peters walks through the next steps to follow if you find a tick on you.

“Carefully remove it using tweezers, and then clean the area with an antiseptic such as rubbing alcohol, and then be sure to dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or placing it in a sealed container and wrapping that tightly up in tape before you throw it in the trash. And then also spending time in tick-heavy areas, toss your clothes in the dryer on high-heat for 10 minutes before washing them as usual. This will just kill any hidden ticks attached to your clothing.”

Peters suggests that if you have been outside to do tick checks prior to going back inside on yourself, children, and pets. She names common places they like hiding are in your hair, behind your ear, or between your toes. Peters mentions that if you’re dealing with itching or soreness, then you should consider consulting with your primary care physician.