Protection against Mosquitoes

Protection against Mosquitoes

Ticks, & Other Insects & Arthropods

Vaccines or chemoprophylactic drugs are available to protect against some vectorborne diseases such as yellow fever and malaria; however, travelers still should be advised to use repellents and other general protective measures against biting arthropods. The effectiveness of malaria chemoprophylaxis is variable, depending on patterns of drug resistance, bioavailability, and compliance with medication, and no similar preventive measures exist for other mosquitoborne diseases such as dengue or chikungunya. There has been a recent resurgence in bed bug infestations worldwide, particularly in developed countries (Box 2-03).

CDC recommends the use of products containing active ingredients that have been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing. EPA registration of active ingredients indicates the materials have been reviewed and approved for efficacy and human safety when applied according to the instructions on the label.

GENERAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Avoid outbreaks. To the extent possible, travelers should avoid known foci of epidemic disease transmission. The CDC website provides information on regional disease transmission patterns and outbreaks (www.cdc.gov/travel).

Be aware of peak exposure times and places. Exposure to arthropod bites may be reduced if travelers modify their patterns of activity or behavior. Although mosquitoes may bite at any time of day, peak biting activity for vectors of some diseases (such as dengue and chikungunya) is during daylight hours. Vectors of other diseases (such as malaria) are most active in twilight periods (dawn and dusk) or in the evening after dark. Avoiding the outdoors or focusing preventive actions during peak hours may reduce risk. Place also matters; ticks are often found in grasses and other vegetated areas. Local health officials or guides may be able to point out areas with increased arthropod activity.

Wear appropriate clothing. Travelers can minimize areas of exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, boots, and hats. Tucking in shirts, tucking pants into socks, and wearing closed shoes instead of sandals may reduce risk. Repellents or insecticides, such as permethrin, can be applied to clothing and gear for added protection.

Check for ticks. Travelers should inspect themselves and their clothing for ticks during outdoor activity and at the end of the day. Prompt removal of attached ticks can prevent some infections.

Bed nets. When accommodations are not adequately screened or air conditioned, bed nets are essential to provide protection and to reduce discomfort caused by biting insects. If bed nets do not reach the floor, they should be tucked under mattresses. Bed nets are most effective when they are treated with a pyrethroid. Pretreated, long-lasting bed nets can be purchased before traveling, or nets can be treated after purchase. Nets treated with a pyrethroid insecticide will be effective for several months if they are not washed. Long-lasting pretreated nets may be effective for much longer.

Insecticides and spatial repellents. An increasing array of products to be used as spatial repellents (containing active ingredients such as metofluthrin and allethrin) is becoming commercially available. These augment the aerosol insecticides, vaporizing mats, and mosquito coils that have been available for some time. Such products can help to clear rooms or areas of mosquitoes (spray aerosols) or repel mosquitoes from a circumscribed area (coils, spatial repellents). Although many of these products appear to have repellent or insecticidal activity under particular conditions, they have not yet been adequately evaluated in peer-reviewed studies for their efficacy in preventing vectorborne disease. As such, travelers should supplement the use of these products with topical or clothing repellents or bed nets in areas with the potential for vectorborne disease transmission or if biting arthropods are noted. Since some products available internationally may contain pesticides that are not registered in the United States, it may be preferable for travelers to bring their own. Insecticides and repellent products should always be used with caution, avoiding direct inhalation of spray or smoke.

Optimum protection can be provided by applying the repellents described in the following sections to clothing and to exposed skin.

Box 2-03. Bed bugs and international travel

A recent resurgence in bed bug infestations worldwide, particularly in developed countries, is thought to be related to the increase in international travel, pest control strategy changes in travel lodgings, and insecticide resistance. Bed bug infestations have been increasingly reported in hotels, theaters, and any locations where people congregate, even in the workplace, dormitories, and schools. Bed bugs may be transported in luggage and on clothing. Transport of personal belongings in contaminated transport vehicles is another means of spread of these insects.

Bed bugs are small, flat insects that are reddish-brown in color, wingless, and range from 1 to 7 mm in length. While bed bugs have not been shown to transmit disease, their bites can produce strong allergic reactions and considerable emotional stress.

Protective Measures against Bed Bugs

Travelers should be encouraged to take the following precautions to avoid or reduce their exposure to bed bugs:

• Inspect the premises of hotels or other unfamiliar sleeping locations for bed bugs on mattresses, box springs, bedding, and furniture, particularly built-in furniture with the bed, desk, and closets as a continuous structural unit. Travelers who observe evidence of bed bug activity—whether it be the bugs themselves or physical signs such as blood-spotting on linens—should seek alternative lodging.
• Keep suitcases closed when they are not in use and try to keep them off the floor.
• It is best in high-risk areas to remove clothing and personal items, such as toiletry bags and shaving kits, from the suitcase only when they are in use.
• Carefully inspect clothing and personal items before returning them to the suitcase.
• Keep in mind that bed bug eggs and nymphs can be very small and are easily overlooked.

Prevention is by far the most effective and inexpensive way to protect oneself from these pests. The costs of ridding a personal residence of these insects are considerable, and efforts at control are often not immediately successful even when conducted by professionals.

REPELLENTS FOR USE ON SKIN AND CLOTHING

CDC has evaluated information published in peer-reviewed scientific literature and data available from EPA to identify several EPA-registered products that provide repellent activity sufficient to help people reduce the bites of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Products containing the following active ingredients typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection:

• DEET (chemical name: N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethyl-3-methyl-benzamide). Products containing DEET include, but are not limited to, Off!, Cutter, Sawyer, and Ultrathon.
• Picaridin (KBR 3023 [Bayrepel] and icaridin outside the United States; chemical name: 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid 1-methylpropyl ester). Products containing picaridin include, but are not limited to, Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, and Autan (outside the United States).
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD (chemical name: para-menthane-3,8-diol), the synthesized version of OLE. Products containing OLE and PMD include, but are not limited to, Repel. This recommendation refers to EPA-registered repellent products containing the active ingredient OLE (or PMD). “Pure” oil of lemon eucalyptus (essential oil) is not the same product; it has not undergone similar, validated testing for safety and efficacy, is not registered with EPA as an insect repellent, and is not covered by this recommendation.
• IR3535 (chemical name: 3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester). Products containing IR3535 include, but are not limited to, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition.

EPA characterizes the active ingredients DEET and picaridin as “conventional repellents” and OLE, PMD, and IR3535 as “biopesticide repellents,” which are derived from natural materials.

Repellent Efficacy

Published data indicate that repellent efficacy and duration of protection vary considerably among products and among mosquito species. Product efficacy and duration of protection are also markedly affected by ambient temperature, level of activity, amount of perspiration, exposure to water, abrasive removal, and other factors. In general, higher concentrations of active ingredient provide longer duration of protection, regardless of the active ingredient. Products with <10% active ingredient may offer only limited protection, often 1–2 hours. Products that offer sustained-release or controlled-release (microencapsulated) formulations, even with lower active ingredient concentrations, may provide longer protection times. Studies suggest that concentrations of DEET above approximately 50% do not offer a marked increase in protection time against mosquitoes; DEET efficacy tends to plateau at a concentration of approximately 50%.

Recommendations are based on the summary of peer-reviewed journal articles and scientific studies and data submitted to regulatory agencies. People may experience some variation in protection from different products. Regardless of what product is used, if travelers start to get insect bites they should reapply the repellent according to the label instructions, try a different product, or, if possible, leave the area with biting insects.

Repellents should be purchased before traveling and can be found online or in hardware stores, drug stores, and supermarkets. A wider variety of repellents can be found in camping, sporting goods, and military surplus stores. When purchasing repellents overseas, look for the EPA-registered active ingredients on the product labels; some names of products available internationally have been specified in the list above.

Repellents and Sunscreen

Repellents that are applied according to label instructions may be used with sunscreen with no reduction in repellent activity; however, limited data show a one-third decrease in the sun protection factor (SPF) of sunscreens when DEET-containing insect repellents are used after a sunscreen is applied. Products that combine sunscreen and repellent are not recommended, because sunscreen may need to be reapplied more often and in larger amounts than needed for the repellent component to provide protection from biting insects. In general, the recommendation is to use separate products, applying sunscreen first and then applying the repellent.

Repellents and Insecticides for Use on Clothing

Clothing, hats, shoes, bed nets, mesh jackets, and camping gear can be treated with permethrin for added protection. Products such as Permanone and Sawyer permethrin are registered with EPA specifically for this use.

Permethrin is a highly effective insecticide-acaricide and repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting and nuisance arthropods. Clothing and other items must be treated 24–48 hours in advance of travel to allow them to dry. As with all pesticides, follow the label instructions when using permethrin clothing treatments. Alternatively, clothing pretreated with permethrin is commercially available, marketed to consumers in the US as Insect Shield.

Permethrin-treated materials retain repellency or insecticidal activity after repeated laundering but should be retreated, as described on the product label, to provide continued protection. Clothing treated with the other repellent products described above (such as DEET) provides protection from biting arthropods but will not last through washing and will require more frequent reapplications.

Precautions when Using Insect Repellents

Travelers should take the following precautions:

• Apply repellents only to exposed skin or clothing, as directed on the product label.
• Do not use repellents under clothing.
• Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• Do not apply repellents to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears.
• When using sprays, do not spray directly on face—spray on hands first and then apply to face.
• Wash hands after application to avoid accidental exposure to eyes. Children should not handle repellents. Instead, adults should apply repellents to their own hands first, and then gently spread on the child’s exposed skin. Avoid applying directly to children’s hands.
• Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Heavy application and saturation are generally unnecessary for effectiveness. If biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, apply a bit more.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days.
• Wash treated clothing before wearing it again. This precaution may vary with different repellents—check the product label.

If a traveler experiences a rash or other reaction, such as itching or swelling, from an insect repellent, the repellent should be discontinued and washed off with mild soap and water, and a local poison-control center should be called for further guidance. Travelers seeking health care because of the repellent should take the repellent to the doctor’s office and show the doctor. Permethrin should never be applied to skin but only to clothing, bed nets, or other fabrics as directed on the product label.

Children

Most repellents can be used on children aged >2 months. Protect infants aged <2 months from mosquitoes by using an infant carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit. Products containing OLE specify that they should not be used on children aged <3 years. Other than the safety tips listed above, EPA does not recommend any additional precautions for using registered repellents on children or on pregnant or lactating women.

Useful Links

• Using Insect Repellents Safely (EPA): http://epa.gov/pesticides/insect/safe.htm
• Insect Repellent Use and Safety (CDC): www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm
• National Pesticide Information Center: http://npic.orst.edu/index.html

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Barnard DR, Bernier UR, Posey KH, Xue RD. Repellency of IR3535, KBR3023, para-menthane-3,8-diol, and DEET to black salt marsh mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Everglades National Park. J Med Entomol. 2002 Nov;39(6):895–9.
2. Barnard DR, Xue RD. Laboratory evaluation of mosquito repellents against Aedes albopictus, Culex nigripalpus, and Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae). J Med Entomol. 2004 Jul;41(4):726–30.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency. Joint statement on bed bug control in the United States from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2010 [cited 2010 Nov 24]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/publications/bed_bugs_cdc-epa_statement.htm.
4. Fradin MS, Day JF. Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites. N Engl J Med. 2002 Jul 4;347(1):13–8.
5. Montemarano AD, Gupta RK, Burge JR, Klein K. Insect repellents and the efficacy of sunscreens. Lancet. 1997 Jun 7;349(9066):1670-1.
6. Murphy ME, Montemarano AD, Debboun M, Gupta R. The effect of sunscreen on the efficacy of insect repellent: a clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Aug;43(2 Pt 1):219–22.
7. Thavara U, Tawatsin A, Chompoosri J, Suwonkerd W, Chansang UR, Asavadachanukorn P. Laboratory and field evaluations of the insect repellent 3535 (ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate) and DEET against mosquito vectors in Thailand. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2001 Sep;17(3):190–5.

From wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Mosquito Diseases

ENCEPHALITIS

Encephalitis in various forms such as St. Louis, Western Equine, La Crosse, Eastern Equine, and West Nile, which was recently discovered in the Northeast is endemic to the United States and increasing in incidence. Although extremely rare, Eastern Equine Encephalitis has a 30% - 60% mortality rate once contracted. Severe damage to the central nervous system occurs in those that survive the illness.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is maintained in nature through a cycle between the Culiseta melanura mosquito and birds that live in freshwater swamps. Although Culiseta melanura do not bite humans, some mosquitoes will "cross bite"; i.e., bite an infected bird and then bite a human or animal (horse, emu, and other exotic birds), thereby spreading the disease. These mosquitoes are also known as "bridge vectors". A vector is a species that transmits a disease from one host to another. These bridge vectors may take a meal from a bird and later take another meal from a mammal.

Symptoms usually occur within two to ten days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. These symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion, and lethargy. Encephalitis, swelling of the brain, is the most dangerous symptom. Rhode Island has confirmed five cases of EEE with two deaths in the last thirteen years. The last death was reported in 1993.

WEST NILE FEVER

West Nile Virus symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and rash, which are mild symptoms to severe symptoms that include neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremor, coma, vision loss, and paralysis. These severe symptoms could last weeks or could be permanent. The onset of symptoms usually begins three to 14 days after a mosquito bite. Unlike Eastern Equine Encephalitis, 80% of the people who are infected with WNV will show no symptoms at all. 20% will show mild to serious symptoms. People who are mostly likely to show symptoms if bitten by an infected mosquito are infants, the elderly and people with auto-immune difficiencies.

DENGUE FEVER

Dengue fever is primarily a disease of the tropics that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Aedes aegypti is a day-biting mosquito that prefers to feed on humans. It is also transmitted by the Aedes albopictus (also called the "tiger mosquito"). Those infected with dengue can suffer from a spectrum of illnesses ranging from a viral flu to severe and fatal hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

The dengue virus is passed back and forth between mosquitoes and humans and causes an extraordinarily painful ailment that exists in four known strains or serotypes. Dengue is especially dangerous to children, who generally have one infection, but if bitten again can get a more serious infection that can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF causes severe internal bleeding, shock, and circulatory collapse, and is usually fatal to children.

Until recently, dengue was relatively unknown in the Western Hemisphere. In the 1970's, a dengue epidemic swept through Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean. In 1981 a second strain broke out in Cuba, accompanied by hemorrhagic fever. The second epidemic resulted in more than 300,000 hemorrhagic fever cases, and more than 1,000 deaths. Most were children. In the summer of 1998 an epidemic broke out on the island of Barbados.

Dengue is increasingly becoming a plague of global proportions and may soon eclipse malaria as the most significant mosquito-borne viral disease affecting humans.

MALARIA

Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted from person to person by the bite of an Anopheles mosquito. Anopheles bite during the nighttime and are present in almost all countries in the tropics and subtropics.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, and malaise. In its early stages it can resemble the onset of the flu. These symptoms can develop 6-8 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito or as late as several months after the traveler has left the area.

Malaria can sometimes be prevented by the use of antimalarial drugs and protection against mosquito bites. Some estimates place 40% of the world's population at risk for malaria. It is estimated that worldwide, malaria claims over one million lives annually. (World Health Organization 1989)

YELLOW FEVER

Yellow fever is a disease caused by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It does not occur in the U.S. but is common in parts of Africa and South America. The symptoms of yellow fever include fever, chills, headache, backache, nausea, and vomiting; jaundice can also occur. More serious cases may affect the blood, liver, and kidneys. The disease can be fatal.

The disease is spread when an infected mosquito bites a person with yellow fever and then transmits it by biting another person.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, other than to relieve the symptoms. Once a person has had yellow fever, they are immune to further infection. The best way to prevent the disease is through vaccination and mosquito control.

from http://www.mosquitomagnetdepot.com/info/mosquitoinfo.html

Mosquito Repellent

Product Name : Soffel Mosquito Repellent Liquid Spray Fresh Scent

Condition : Brand new & Never used with a seal pack

size : 70 ml.

How to use : Spray evenly on part of body that need protection from mosquitoes. For maximum Protection . Let soffell to dry on skin for a while after spraying

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Product Name : Soffel Mosquito Repellent Liquid Spray Flora Scent

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size : 70 ml.

How to use : Spray evenly on part of body that need protection from mosquitoes. For maximum Protection . Let soffell to dry on skin for a while after spraying

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Soffel Mosquito Repellent Liquid Lotion

Product Name : Soffel Mosquito Repellent Liquid Lotion Flora Scent

Condition : Brand new & Never used with a seal pack

size : 70 ml.

How to use : Rub on your hand and rub all over your body.

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User review

by MomLouiTan

Soffell mosquito’s repellent is one of a product that I often use in the house. Actually we also use another mosquito’s repellent. We did not really stick to one brand of mosquito repellent. But we do always have a sock of mosquito’s repellent. So if I go to the supermarket and see Soffell mosquito repellent product first in the store, I will probably take it and put it inside my shopping bag immediately. Since the price of Soffell Mosquito’s repellent is almost the same with other repellent lotion, we just use whatever we can find in the store.

The difference between Soffell mosquito’s repellent with other brands of mosquito’s repellent in this country is that Soffell brand only offer mosquito’s repellent as lotion. Meanwhile the other brands sometimes have, sprayers, creams, and also lotion. So there are more choice of products than Soffell Mosquito’s repellent.

According to the information that I can read on it’s package, if we apply this Soffell Mosquito’s repellent lotion on our skin, it will protect our skin from mosquito’s bite at least six hours. But I am not sure if it’s that long or not. Because few times, I saw small mosquito’s bite on my son’s skin after five hours using it. It can be that I did not apply it on his skin properly or maybe the lotion itself is not working for more than five hours. So, I need to apply the lotion again on the skin before that if I want to protect my children’s skin away from mosquito’s bite.

The good thing is this Soffell mosquito’s repellent lotion can be found everywhere. I mean, I don’t have to go to special store if I need to buy Soffell lotion. I can find it in the supermarket, small store near the place where I live. And it is also available in the sachet package. So if I am traveling somewhere, I can just buy few sachet package of soffell and bring it inside my travel bag. So I know for sure that I can apply this lotion on my children’s skin.

And this Soffell Mosquito’s repellent lotion product also have a nice smell. They have flower smell. So whenever we apply it on our skin, we will smell the flower smell on our body or skin as well. Fresh and nice!

Although they said that you can also use it for small children, you still need to be careful with keeping this product away from the kids. Just try to put it somewhere where the kids can not reach it. Keep reach out of the children! That’s what they always say on their packages.

Product Name : Pigeon Anti Mosquito Repellent Wipes pack

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size : 12 pcs.

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Product Name : Off! Lotion Anti Mosquito Repellent Lotion Kids

Condition : Brand new & Never used with a seal pack

size : 50 ml.

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Product Name : Off! Lotion Anti Mosquito Repellent Lotion Family

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size : 50 ml.

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User review

by jackie

My mother has been having problems with mosquitoes ever since I could remember. I grew up fearing mosquitoes, especially because of malaria and lately the dengue virus. She has taken precautions to rid her home of mosquitoes, but no one can really eliminate mosquitoes from their surroundings. And that’s one of the reasons why we rarely visit her house. I actually ran across Off Lotion while trying to buy a rash cream and picked up the container of Off lotion by mistake.

I was intrigued because as I was growing up, we never had this kind of insect repellant. I bought it and brought it along on one of our rare trips to my mother’s small farm. It works! That’s probably the best description I can think of right now. My kids played all afternoon in the barns and not one mosquito bite. To think the barn was so infested with those pesky biters. I was even more astonished at how gentle it smelled, not at all medicine like.

Even my mother was amazed at how well it worked. She rushed to town and bought 5 bottles saying that she’ll soon be needing it because her grandchildren will be visiting more often. It feels great to be given the opportunity to visit the house where I grew up in whenever we felt suffocated in the city.

Product Name : Kor yor 15 Milky Lotion Anti Mosquito 50 g.

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size : 50 g.

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Product Name : Kor Yor15 Lavender Repellent Mosquito and Insect.

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Tip

How Not to Let Bugs Ruin Your Outdoor Vacation

By: Lydia Quinn

If you are like most people, you love spending time outdoors. It is relaxing and reinvigorating to spend time in nature's splendor. However, along with the beauty and fun of it comes the downside ? pesky bugs. Whether you are camping, fishing, hiking, or just riding your bike on a trail, you will have to contend with a variety of insects. Not only are they annoying, they can transmit serious illnesses. Here are a few ways you can protect yourself from bugs and not let them ruin your outdoor fun.

Insect spray. It probably goes without saying but you should never go on an outdoor vacation without taking along a good bug spray. Of course, it won't do any good unless you actually use it. Read the directions and apply it as often as needed and in the way the manufacturer suggests in order to obtain the best protection. The CDC recommends you look for a spray that contains one of these ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon, eucalyptus, PMD, or IR3535.

Wear protective clothing. When you venture into the woods, you should protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and pants. These help protect you from both mosquitoes and ticks. Tuck your pants legs into your socks so ticks can't crawl up your ankles. Wear a hat to protect your hair from becoming infested and wear closed shoes. Wearing light colored clothes makes it easier to spot ticks so you can pick them off before they bite.

Sleep behind a barrier. Make sure your tent is equipped with mosquito netting or a screen that will keep the bugs out of your tent while you are sleeping at night. If the bugs get in, you could be covered with mosquito bites by the time you wake up in the morning. You can also treat your tent with permethrin so it repels the mosquitoes. Permethrin treated clothing typically lasts through five washings so if it rains, you may want to reapply it to your tent.

Protect your eyes. Don't forget about your eyes when you are getting ready for an outing. You probably have experienced how annoying it is for mosquitoes to be constantly bombarding your eye area. If the rest of your body is protected and that is the only way they can get at you, it will be even worse. If you are going for a hike during the day, simple sunglasses may suffice. If you are going out night fishing, you may want to wear goggles for full protection.

Avoid perfumes. Bugs tend to bother some people more than others. There can be several reasons for this but it could be a simple matter of smell. Don't make yourself appealing to insects, particularly bees. Avoid wearing flower based fragrances when you are going to be in the same places as lots of bees, like in the woods.

Remember, bugs are out to get you all hours of the day. They are most active at dusk and dawn, but mosquitoes will gladly bite you during the day or night hours too. While mosquitoes are the most notorious, don't forget there are all kinds of bugs out there waiting to attack, such as ticks and ants. So be well prepared and take steps to defend yourself so your vacation won't be ruined by bug bites.