you've been getting more bug bites than usual this summer?

Me, too, because if yes, you're not alone.

Chicagoans have reported a greater number of mosquito and tick bites than previous years.

Thanks to changes in weather patterns and a new breed of mosquito making its way to our area.

These bloodthirsty insects are having a busy year.

Joining us to talk more about this are Christina Lopez, a research entomologist at the North shore Mosquito Abatement District and Dr.

Kiran, Joshi chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health.

Thanks you both for joining us.

Welcome just thank Christina.

So we just mentioned the weather is playing a big role why mosquito and tick bites are so high this summer.

Tell us more about that.

Yeah.

So a lot of it is due to climate change, unfortunately.

So we have shorter winters and longer summers.

>> Which is increasing the time that mosquitoes and ticks no active.

It can be biting us.

And then also the ranges expansion for expanding for different mosquito and tick species.

And then we also have, you know, invasive mosquito tick species as well.

Okay.

Yes, is a new kind of mosquito, Chicago, who is what it Yes, so we have some right here.

These the Asian tiger mosquito or 80's albopictus invasive mosquito species.

So this was introduced into the United States in the 1980's.

kind of in the southern part of the U.S.

And it's just been slowly making its way up North 2 were now it's very, very well established here in the Chicago Land area.

All right.

And viewers at home, I think they're getting a closer look at this.

They can see like the little bugs flying around in the top section.

Are these larva in the bottom?

we have adults up here and then down here we have the larva and the Okay.

exciting.

>> Dr the first 4 cases of West Nile virus were reported in suburban Cook County last week.

How big of a concern as West Nile this season?

Yeah, that's a great questions.

So just zooming out a little bit.

Wanted to speak to West Nile.

So first, West Nile virus is just out.

>> It's a virus.

It's mosquito-borne say it's not transmitted person to person.

It's the leading cause of mosquito-borne illnesses in the continental United States.

And mosquitoes may pick up the virus by biting birds and then transmitted to human beings.

Now in terms of the disease that it causes symptoms can be very mild to nonexistent.

But in rare cases you can get what's called Niro invasive West Nile disease.

And so that can result in people getting really sick, needing to be admitted to the ICU, be put on a breathing machine and in rare cases even death.

So it's all the more reason to pay attention to all the common sons prevention measures that I know we're going to talk about and go ahead.

Sorry of some because we were also talking about severity of it this season.

That's right.

Cook County Department of Public Health has announced that there are have been 4 cases of West Nile virus in suburban Cook County this season, all cases are under medical care.

2 of them are narrow invasives.

So that means it's the type of disease that can potentially make you very, very ill.

So again, really critical to think about prevention and some of the common sense prevention measures that we recommend, right, right.

And we're definitely to get to some of those common sense measures as well.

Christina, where we see the most mosquito and tick activity.

Yeah, so it kind of depends on we see a lot of mosquito activity, at least for the tiger mosquito and even for West Nile and a little bit more urban areas where there's lots of people really close together.

>> And then ticks, you know, kind of need natural area.

So we see them a lot of like forested type where yeah.

And for those kiddos that standing water, yes, yes.

All the standing water.

So for the Asian tiger mosquito, it's a lot of containers in people's yards.

So that could be tires.

That could be plant saucers gutters.

That haven't been cleaned out.

Children's toys that are holding water, anything that that can potentially cold water in your backyard is probably breeding mosquitoes, Dr Joshi ticks also can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and Alpha Gal syndrome.

Tell us a little more about that leaves.

Sure.

So I think they're to tick borne diseases that have been widely covered in the media.

Both are caused by different ticks.

One is Lyme disease.

>> Which initially originated in the northeastern part of United States.

But partially because of climate change partially because of the migration of the blacklegged tick or the deer tick has started to migrate into this region.

And so we know that those blacklegged ticks are now established in Cooke County.

That tick needs to be attached for 36 hours in order to pass on the bacteria.

So really important to do tick checks.

If you've been out and about if you've been hiking, if you've been in areas where there's tall grass, early symptoms of Lyme disease can show up within a few days to a few weeks.

They can include fever, headache, fatigue, and this distinctive rash.

It's sometimes known as a bull's eye rash but doesn't have to be it generally is a rash that starts around that tick bite and expands.

If it's untreated, it can cause even more severe symptoms.

Sometimes it can affect your heart in those cases.

Again, it can also cause death.

So again, really critical to do to do tick checks and remove those takes if caught early Lyme disease can be treated with very standard antibiotic treatment.

So again, if you think you've been bitten by a tick, please have a conversation with your primary care provider, OK?

That's good to know.

Christina.

What should people trying stop mosquitoes and ticks from breeding?

>> Around their homes, businesses, whatever.

Yes, for mosquitoes.

The number one thing to do is to eliminate standing water.

So, you know, removing anything from your yard that could be holding water.

>> Dumping things that kind of thing and then also taking personal protective measures like wearing repellents is really important.

That's a great visual of just some areas in your backyard that might be breeding mosquitoes and then using personal protection like repellents, that either DEET, picaridin oil of Lemon eucalyptus or permethrin treated clothing is really long sleeves pants.

Yes, we have long sleeves out.

Yeah.

>> Just a couple of things I might add.

I think really good advice to wear repellent.

Also important to take a walk around your home to see if there any screens that might be broken, a simple fix with just some duct tape can prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.

I think we talked about getting rid of standing water.

I think it's also important to address defensively and watch the clock.

So a lot of mosquitoes that cause West Nile bite during the evening and in the morning.

So particularly if you're out and about that important to wear that repellent and also to wear long sleeves and pants.

And these little guys, they're big bite during the day.

Yes, okay.

Yes.

On a very different before.

this is what this conversation is run out of time.

Got about 15 How do you If you've been bitten by a mosquito?

>> Do 10 seconds So you can some stirring cream that you purchase over the counter.

Some people will recommend just rubbing with 2 fingers just north of where you got that and that can sort of help distract the I think that distraction technique can be really helpful, particularly with young ones for the Yeah.