Insect repellents and insecticides
The start of summer means more time outside and more bugs to fend off. Since some bugs, like mosquitoes and ticks, can carry diseases, it’s worth protecting yourself and your family when you are outdoors. Insect repellents do not kill bugs, rather they deter them from wanting to be nearby. A common example is bug spray that contains DEET. On the other hand, insecticides are designed to kill bugs. A common example is permethrin. While insect repellents can be sprayed on a person’s skin, insecticides should not be applied directly to skin. Often, they are used to treat outer layers of clothing.
Find out more:
- How to Choose an Insect Repellent for Your Child (webpage)
- Insect Repellents (webpage)
- Key Points about Insect Repellents (webpage)
- The Lowdown on Insect Repellents (video)
Infectious diseases in the news
Infectious diseases are circulating throughout the U.S., so we wanted to provide a brief snapshot from some of the surveillance reports we receive:
- Almost 1,800 cases of measles were reported in 2026 throughout the U.S. by late April. Cases have been reported from 36 different states. In 2025, almost 2,300 cases were reported for the year, and they were reported from 44 states.
- Almost 100 cases of mumps have been reported in 17 locations so far in 2026.
- Tetanus cases have been reported in California and Florida so far this year.
- Pertussis cases were high compared with neighboring countries during 2025, with almost 30,000 reported cases and 16 deaths. So far in 2026, rates are lower, but cases are still occurring.
- COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were common this winter, with protections against RSV being given later into the year than is typical due to cases continuing later than usual. About 31 million people had influenza; 23,000 were hospitalized, and almost 150 children died from influenza during the 2025-2026 season.
- Rotavirus cases have also been increasing recently, and unfortunately, vaccination rates have been decreasing in recent years, leaving more infants susceptible to this vomiting and diarrheal illness.
- Rates of mpox and chikungunya are also higher than normal so far this year.
Find community health clinics
The Maryland Partnership for Prevention (MPP) team has developed a national resource to help families find health services. The Mobile Clinic Finder is new, so it is still being populated, but over time, hopefully more communities will post their clinics, enabling families to find health services.
Learn more or see if there is a clinic near you.
Why you can’t always know your virus
Force of Infection is a program aimed at helping healthcare providers stay up to date on disease outbreaks. Recently, the team published an article that might be of interest. Titled “Why you can’t always know your virus,” the article described how providers know what diseases are circulating, how disease surveillance and testing work, and why that means your doctor won’t always be able to confirm exactly which virus is making you feel crummy.
Insect repellents and insecticides
The start of summer means more time outside and more bugs to fend off. Since some bugs, like mosquitoes and ticks, can carry diseases, it’s worth protecting yourself and your family when you are outdoors. Insect repellents do not kill bugs, rather they deter them from wanting to be nearby. A common example is bug spray that contains DEET. On the other hand, insecticides are designed to kill bugs. A common example is permethrin. While insect repellents can be sprayed on a person’s skin, insecticides should not be applied directly to skin. Often, they are used to treat outer layers of clothing.
Find out more:
- How to Choose an Insect Repellent for Your Child (webpage)
- Insect Repellents (webpage)
- Key Points about Insect Repellents (webpage)
- The Lowdown on Insect Repellents (video)
Infectious diseases in the news
Infectious diseases are circulating throughout the U.S., so we wanted to provide a brief snapshot from some of the surveillance reports we receive:
- Almost 1,800 cases of measles were reported in 2026 throughout the U.S. by late April. Cases have been reported from 36 different states. In 2025, almost 2,300 cases were reported for the year, and they were reported from 44 states.
- Almost 100 cases of mumps have been reported in 17 locations so far in 2026.
- Tetanus cases have been reported in California and Florida so far this year.
- Pertussis cases were high compared with neighboring countries during 2025, with almost 30,000 reported cases and 16 deaths. So far in 2026, rates are lower, but cases are still occurring.
- COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were common this winter, with protections against RSV being given later into the year than is typical due to cases continuing later than usual. About 31 million people had influenza; 23,000 were hospitalized, and almost 150 children died from influenza during the 2025-2026 season.
- Rotavirus cases have also been increasing recently, and unfortunately, vaccination rates have been decreasing in recent years, leaving more infants susceptible to this vomiting and diarrheal illness.
- Rates of mpox and chikungunya are also higher than normal so far this year.
Find community health clinics
The Maryland Partnership for Prevention (MPP) team has developed a national resource to help families find health services. The Mobile Clinic Finder is new, so it is still being populated, but over time, hopefully more communities will post their clinics, enabling families to find health services.
Learn more or see if there is a clinic near you.
Why you can’t always know your virus
Force of Infection is a program aimed at helping healthcare providers stay up to date on disease outbreaks. Recently, the team published an article that might be of interest. Titled “Why you can’t always know your virus,” the article described how providers know what diseases are circulating, how disease surveillance and testing work, and why that means your doctor won’t always be able to confirm exactly which virus is making you feel crummy.