Getting outside during the summer for a walk, picnic, yoga class or swim can help recharge your batteries after a long winter and wet spring. But outdoor fun isn’t without its challenges. Mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and flies can be annoying. And some of these bugs can also carry disease and put your health at risk.

Learn more about the risks and how to protect yourself from bug bites, clearing the way for healthy, stress-free adventures in the great outdoors.

Diseases spread by bugs

While not all bugs pose a risk (and in fact, we need most of these creepy-crawlies to create a healthy environment). But some of them transport diseases that can put your health at risk. Here are some of the bugs to look out for, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.*

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Mosquitoes

Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, they can also transmit diseases, such as West Nile virus or Zika virus. They can become infected when they bite a person with West Nile or Zika. Then they can spread these viruses to others. If you’re bitten by an infected mosquito, you may not get sick. Or you may only experience mild symptoms, particularly in the case of Zika.*

But with West Nile virus, adults over age 60 or people with certain medical conditions may be more susceptible to severe symptoms.* These can include:

• High fever
   
• Headache
   
• Muscle weakness and aches
   
• Neck stiffness
   
• Tremors
   
• Convulsions
   
• Vision loss
   
• Numbness
   
• Paralysis
   
• Coma

Symptoms can last up to several weeks. If a mosquito does bite you, avoid scratching. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your primary care provider right away. Or if it’s urgent, visit the emergency room or an urgent care center.

Ticks

Illnesses carried by ticks can have life-altering consequences. Ticks in certain areas can carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other infections that can result in fever, aches and a rash. If left untreated with antibiotics or other drugs, they can lead to more serious symptoms. like:

• Severe joint pain
   
• Heart palpitations
   
• Numbness or tingling
   
• Paralysis of facial muscles*

Ask a nurse 24/7

Sometimes you need a quick answer to a health question. With the 24-Hour Nurse Line,* you can speak to a registered nurse about a variety of health topics, whenever you need to. And you can call as many times as you need, at no added cost to you.

Call 1-855-493-7019 (TTY: 711) anytime.

5 ways to protect yourself from bug bites

1. Be aware of your location

You'll generally find illnesses carried by mosquitoes and ticks in specific geographic areas. You can check with your local health department to learn about the risks in your area. If you live in or travel to places where insect-related illnesses are common, it’s even more important to take the steps below.

If you’re in tick territory, check for ticks after being outside. Be sure to check pets, too. Remove any attached ticks by using tweezers and grabbing the tick as close to your skin as possible.

2. Use an effective insect repellent

If you’re going to be outside, especially at night, use bug spray. Look for insect repellents that have active ingredients approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These are safe for you and the environment. These ingredients include:*

• 10% to 30% DEET (look for repellents that have 10 to 30 percent DEET)
   
• Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the U.S.)
   
• IR3535®
   
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
   
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
   
• 2-Undecanone
   

Follow the product’s instructions for how often to apply. And if you’re using sunscreen at the same time, apply the repellent after your sunscreen.

Be sure to check with your primary care provider if you have questions about insect repellents.

3. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants

Try to cover up around grassy areas, standing water or wooded areas. This is where bugs like ticks and mosquitoes are most likely to be. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants instead of a t-shirt and shorts. Look for materials that are breathable during hot summer weather, so you don’t overheat.

4. Treat clothing and gear with permethrin

An option to stay bite-free is to use permethrin. This is an insecticide that kills or repels bugs like mosquitoes and flies. If you plan to be outside for long periods of time in areas known to have infected insects, you can use it as added protection.

Either treat clothing with permethrin or buy clothing and gear that’s already treated with it. Read the product information to learn how best to apply the insecticide, or how long the protection on pretreated clothes will last.* Do not apply permethrin directly on skin.

Check with your provider if you have questions about possible skin irritation from wearing clothing treated with permethrin.

5. Use your member discount to buy bug protection

Your Aetna Medicare Advantage plan includes a 20 percent savings on CVS Health® brand health and wellness products to help you stay bug free.

As an Aetna Medicare Advantage member, you get a 20 percent discount on thousands of CVS Health brand health and wellness products — both in store and online. To find out more about your discount, log in to your secure member website. Look for “Wellness Discounts for You” in the “Wellness & Discounts” section. There you can read how to use your online promo code or print your in-store coupon to activate savings. (You cannot combine the 20 percent CVS® discount with any supplemental benefits you receive as part of your Aetna Medicare Advantage plan.)

*FOR MOSQUITOS, REPELLENT, AND PERMETHRIN: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods. April 23, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2026. 

*FOR ZIKA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika. February 25, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2026.

*FOR WEST NILE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About West Nile. September 10, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2026.

*FOR TICKS: Cleveland Clinic. Lyme Disease. October 27, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2026. 

*If you’re a Florida plan member, you can reach your care team at 1-844-498-1860 (TTY: 711), 7 days a week,  8 AM to 11 PM ET. 

Aetna is part of the CVS Health® family of companies. The discount does not apply to items you buy with your Aetna Medicare over-the-counter (OTC) benefit amount (allowance). Vendors offer Value-Added Items and Services (VAIS) at a discount that are not part of your plan’s benefits. You will pay the full cost of discounted services not covered under your plan.

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