Prevention Strategies

Effective Repellents

Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET (at least 20%), Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Reapply every 4 to 6 hours if sweating or active.

Find the right repellent →

Protective Clothing

Wear long sleeves and long pants. Tuck pants into socks in wooded or grassy areas. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot crawling ticks.

Expert Recommendation

Treat Your Gear

Treat clothing and gear with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact and remains effective through several washes. Do not apply permethrin directly to skin.

Stay on Trails

Stay on marked trails and avoid walking through tall grass or brush. Ticks are most commonly found in wooded edges and areas where grass meets trees.

How to Conduct a Daily Tick Check

Shower within 2 hours

Showering after being outdoors helps wash off unattached ticks and provides a good opportunity to do a full-body check.

Step 1

Inspect Gear

Check backpacks, shoes, and blankets before entering indoor spaces.

Step 2

Full Body Scan

Use a mirror. Pay attention to hair, ears, underarms, waist, and behind knees.

Step 3

Tumble Dry

Dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.

If you find an attached tick

Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk. Clean the bite area with soap and water. Contact a provider if you develop a rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms within 30 days.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

At the stadium and fan zones

This summer, take the same precautions at outdoor events that you would anywhere else.

• Apply insect repellent before entering outdoor areas and reapply as needed
• Wear long sleeves and pants if you plan to be in grassy or wooded areas around the venue
• Check yourself for ticks after spending time outdoors, including in parking areas and tailgate zones
• Dispose of food and drink containers promptly to avoid attracting insects

Yard Safety

• Keep grass mowed to 3 inches or shorter
• Remove leaf litter and brush piles around seating areas
• Create a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas
• Empty containers with standing water at least twice a week

Mosquito Safety

Mosquitoes in New Jersey can carry diseases including West Nile virus. Mosquito season runs from late spring through fall, overlapping with World Cup match dates.

• Apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active
• Eliminate standing water around where you are staying

Symptoms to Watch For

Contact a health care provider if you develop any of the following after a tick bite or mosquito exposure:

• Fever or chills
• Rash, especially a bullseye-shaped rash around a bite site
• Body aches, headache, or fatigue
• Joint pain or swelling

Common tick-borne diseases in New Jersey include Lyme disease and several other serious infections. Early treatment is effective. Do not wait for symptoms to worsen before seeking care.

Tick safety downloads

• Tick-borne diseases brochure (English) →
• Folleto sobre enfermedades causadas por garrapatas (Español) →
• Tick safety infographic →