With the Summer Heat and Rain ramping up and a long Memorial Day Weekend around the corner, it’s also time to double check something you probably don’t want to think about: Mosquito Control. Zika prevention..plus a myriad of other skeeter-borne illnesses.
What works and what doesn’t?
If you used “Viatek-brand Mosquito Shield Bands ” the FTC says you may not have gotten much protection at all. They just paid $300,000 to Uncle Sam to settle FTC Charges they made how their product kept you safe from mosquitoes they couldn’t substantiate. According to the FTC ““With Zika virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses in the news, consumers might be looking for products that protect them from mosquitos,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The defendants took advantage of those concerns, and peddled a product without having scientific support that it effectively prevented mosquito bites.”
And if you’re looking for an all-natural solution, Consumer Reports says keep looking …or settle on some more traditional products they’ve found work much better.
In their latest report they recommend “We advise skipping most products made with natural plant oils, such as California Baby Natural Bug Blend (a blend of citronella, lemongrass oil, cedar oil, and other ingredients) and EcoSmart Organic, (which includes geraniol, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, and lemongrass oil). They did not last for more than 1 hour against Aedes mosquitoes, and some failed almost immediately.”
So what do they like best?
“The most effective products against Aedes mosquitoes were Sawyer Picaridin and Natrapel 8 Hour, which each contain 20 percent picaridin, and Off! Deepwoods VIII, which contains 25 percent deet. They kept the mosquitoes from biting for about 8 hours. (The Sawyer product was our top insect repellent overall. It was the only one that also kept Culex mosquitoes, which can spread West Nile disease, and deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease, away for at least 8 hours.) Ben’s 30% DEET Tick & Insect Wilderness Formula kept Aedes mosquitoes away for 7.5 hours and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, containing 30 percent lemon eucalyptus, stopped them for 7 hours.”
In my tests several years ago, I found “Buzz Off ” treated clothing helped too and actually kept the swarms off me for a while down in the ‘Glades…without the nasty side effects of heavy DEET usage, which I’m sensitive to.
Take this seriously, especially if there are any expectant moms out there.
But don’t forget as of this date according to the CDC, NO domestic cases of Zika have been reported from anyone in the U-S caused by the bite of Zika-Infected mosquitos.
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