Keeping mosquitoes at bay

New mosquito repellants can protect Outdoor Indiana folk from West-Nile virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its mosquito repellent recommendations. DEET was previously recommended as the best repellent for application to the skin to reduce mosquito bites.

CDC now also approves picardin and oil of lemon eucalyptus as mosquito repellents. Picardin is used in many insect repellents outside the U.S. Oil of lemon eucalyptus, a plant-based repellent, provides protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus has not been tested against mosquitoes that spread malaria and other international diseases. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years.

CDC also recommends permethrin for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks and mosquitoes, and retains this effect after repeated laundering.

West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall.

Most often, WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

More mosquito repellant information on the CDC Web site http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm.