Preventing Insect Bites Preventing Insect Bites M any diseases are transmitted by the bite of insects.
Mosquitoes transmit such diseases as malaria, yellow fever, filariasis, and encephalitis.
Other diseases are passed through the bites of sandflies, ticks, tsetse flies, and fleas. The best protection against these diseases is to minimize insect bites. Be familiar with the diseases endemic to your area and the feeding patterns of the insects which carry them. For example, malaria-infested mosquitoes are most likely to bite at dusk and after dark. Apply insect repellent to exposed skin.