WEST MICHIGAN - Campers beware: Memorial Day weekend has thousands braving the wilderness alongside pesky ticks and mosquitoes posing serious health threats according to the Kent County Health Department.
The dreaded Zika virus has been hot in the news, thankfully there’s little risk here in Kent County according to health officials. But other diseases like West Nile Virus are serious threats and the best way to fight back is heavily debated among outdoor enthusiasts.
“This is the first time we’ve ever experienced 17 ticks within like a day and a half,” said one diehard camper, Melissa Ash. “Deep Woods Off is supposed to help with the ticks and mosquitoes but it didn’t, I’ve been throwing them in the fire.”
Some are fighting the bite with deet bug spray and long sleeve clothing, others say a nice cold beer is all they need.
“We spray the kids with bug spray and we’ve got the citronella candles,” said another camper, Jason Vanlandingham.
The Kent County Health Department is urging you to check your campsite, yards, and neighborhoods to help eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, like standing water. Saying a single bottle cap is enough water for mosquitoes to breed. And when it comes to camping, less is more.
“So no perfume, no make-up, no hand or body lotion because with more of that stuff you get the mosquitoes.”
