You may notice more mosquitos when you’re outside at this time of year, as vector-borne disease epidemiologist Rebecca Osborne says that August and September are when they start to see higher numbers of mosquito-related diseases in humans, like west nile. Osborne also notes that the relatively dry summer kept mosquito activity lower than usual. The best breeding grounds for mosquitoes can be mucky water, and Osborne says you should remove standing water from your property. 

One mosquito-borne disease that can be very harmful in horses has made its way to Wisconsin and is called equine encephalitis, or EEE. Four cases in the state have been detected. The disease is spread through the bite of a mosquito, and while it can’t be spread from human to human or horse to human, its spread through a mosquito bite, and humans can also come down with it, albeit rare. Symptoms for EEE are similar to west nile, such as fever, chills, and body aches. 

When you buy repellent, Osborne says you should make sure the repellent you buy is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Osborne adds that there are also repellents to use if you want to avoid spraying a product on your skin.