May 16, 2005
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended two new
ingredients as mosquito repellents, picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus, marking
the first time the agency has suggested anything other than the chemical DEET for
mosquito bite prevention.
"We hope by giving people a wider range of options, that some nonusers might
become interested in using repellents," said Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez, a behavioral
scientist at the CDC's division of vector-borne infectious diseases.
DEET, in use for more than 40 years, has long been the standard in mosquito
protection, but many Americans have not been buying products that contain the
chemical. This is due partly to lingering consumer fears — largely unwarranted,
the agency says — about the safety of DEET. Only 40 percent of Americans report
regularly using mosquito repellents, says the CDC — even though West Nile Virus
has been found in 47 of the 48 continental states and the District of Columbia.
West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne infections can result in serious illness
or death; those over age 50 are more vulnerable to the severe effects of West Nile.
Colorado led the nation in 2003 with 2,947 West Nile cases and 63 deaths. Last year, the state reported 288 cases, with three deaths, according to the CDC.
Agency scientists reviewed existing literature and concluded there was sufficient evidence to safely recommend picaridin, a chemical used in other countries and sold in one U.S. product, and oil of lemon eucalyptus, a natural ingredient found in various lotions and sprays.
The CDC recommends that people use repellents whenever they go outdoors during warm-weather months, particularly between dusk and dawn. Click here to go to the CDC West Nile website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm
The CDC also reaffirmed its recommendation for DEET, calling it a "highly effective repellent option" in a statement.
Another repellent option is permethrin, which the CDC recommends only for use on clothing — particularly clothes so thin that a mosquito might be able to bite through them, said Zielinski-Gutierrez. It is not to be sprayed directly onto skin, she said.
CDC officials emphasized the need for consumers to read product labels when selecting mosquito repellents. Some work longer than others and many need to be reapplied every few hours. You may also need to reapply the repellent if you perspire or get wet. A general rule of thumb is to reapply the product if you start getting bitten, Zielinski-Gutierrez said.
URL: http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/health_and_fitness/article/0,1713,BDC_2431_3776553,00.html
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