Experts expect ‘pretty bad’ mosquito season in South Carolina

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - As the temperatures in South Carolina increase, so do the number of mosquitos in our area.

Assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, Melissa Nolan, says there’s a reason mosquitos love the Upstate.

“One of their biggest concerns is drying out, and so they need a really humid environment, and as we all know, South Carolina is highly humid.”

We sat down with Dr. Melissa Nolan from the Arnold School of Public Health to talk about the upcoming mosquito season

Mosquitoes are most commonly found near standing water and there are over 60 species in South Carolina, according to DHEC, including the Asian Tiger Mosquito and Southern House Mosquito.

DHEC says the best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites includes wearing insect repellent and wearing protective clothing.

The repellent should include one of these active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD, or IR3535.

For those that find themselves getting bitten by mosquitos this season, Nolan advises that you avoid the urge to scratch it.

“We always recommend washing the area with soap and water,” Nolan said. “That’s a great way if there is any kind of pathogen on the surface of your skin, to wash that away. And then, otherwise, just any of the over-the-counter creams are great.”

While mosquitos are drawn to the Upstate, there are still ways to avoid them. Here are tips from the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Copyright 2023 WHNS. All rights reserved.