title: Bites and mites: prevention and protection of vector-borne disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are difficult to prevent and control because it is hard to predict the complex habits of mosquitoes, ticks and fleas; most vector-borne viruses or bacteria infect animals as well as humans, which further adds to this difficulty. Thus, prevention is the best protection against VBD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vaccines are available for yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis and several vaccines are in clinical trials for dengue fever. Antimalarial intermittent preventive therapy (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine) and insecticide-treated mosquito nets are associated with a decreased risk of neonatal mortality and lower birth-weight. Permethrin-impregnated clothing for the prevention of tick bites has been shown effective in reducing tick bites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Much progress has been made in terms of development of preventive vaccines and medicines, but there is more work that needs to be done. Efforts still need to continue on raising awareness for prevention of VBD.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Center for Clinical Studies, Houston, Texas, USA. sabajaved23@gmail.com
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Marigdalia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Fort
authors.forename: Stephen K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tyring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008925:Mites; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013987:Ticks; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D007302:Insect Repellents; D014765:Viral Vaccines