What’s wrong in this picture? Employees who work outside, or in buildings with open windows and doors, are at greater risk of encountering disease-carrying mosquitoes.

No matter where you live, it’s likely you’ve at some point encountered the deadliest animal in the world – the mosquito. These small insects may seem harmless, but diseases such as Zika virus, West Nile virus (WNV), Dengue fever, Yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis and malaria are all spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes and can be fatal.

The 2016 Zika virus outbreak quickly spread from Brazil to other parts of the world, including the U.S. In fact, cases increased from 61 in the U.S. in 2015 to more than 5,100 in 2016. With transmission reported in 23 countries and territories of the Americas, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus a public health emergency. Although cases have subsided in 2017, there is still not a proven vaccine for Zika virus.

The best way to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases is to stay indoors where air conditioning is available or where all windows and doors have screens, or away from high-risk areas. However, that’s not always possible, especially for those who need to perform work outside of buildings. These individuals should understand precautions to take to stay safe from disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Employers should provide workers with repellents to use on their skin and clothing.