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Tag: deet

  • West Nile virus threat level rises to moderate in Danvers, Peabody

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    DANVERS — The local threat level for West Nile virus appears to be on the rise as infected mosquitoes have been found in both Danvers and Peabody.

    The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a warning on Aug. 22 for Danvers, and then Friday, DPH reported the first detection of infected mosquitoes in Peabody. And then a second positive sample in Danvers.


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    By Buck Anderson | Staff Writer

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  • West Nile risk level raised to moderate in Middleton

    West Nile risk level raised to moderate in Middleton

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    BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Friday the 13th human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state this year. The individual is a man in his 40s with exposure in southern Essex County.

    As a result, WNV risk levels are being raised to moderate in Middleton in Essex County and North Reading in Middlesex County.

    There have been 332 WNV-positive mosquito samples so far this year detected from Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties, according to the state. Last year, there were six human cases of WNV and no animal cases. No animal cases of WNV have been detected so far this year.

    Risk for WNV will continue until the first hard frost.

    Health officials continue to urge the public to take precautions.

    Avoid mosquito bites

    Apply insect repellent when outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age.

    Be aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning in areas of high risk.

    Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

    Mosquito-proof your home

    Drain standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.

    Install or repair screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all windows and doors.

    Protect your animals

    Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools — especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent West Nile virus (WNV) and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.

    More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at Mosquito-borne Diseases via mass.gov, which is updated daily, or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.

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    By News Staff

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  • Natural Bug Repellent Recipe

    Natural Bug Repellent Recipe

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    Spending time in nature has a multitude of benefits, but sometimes the outdoors can have its drawbacks – especially if you’re in a spot that is crawling with bugs that love to feast on warm-blooded people like us. Itchy, painful and inflamed bites can certainly put a damper on your forest bathing experience, but making your own natural bug repellent can help arm you against those critters without endangering your overall health.

    I’m a cottage-obsessed nature lover and can easily live without the city comforts and conveniences when I’m in the woods. I grew up in the prairies, in Winnipeg and went to summer camp near there where the mosquitoes were so big and vicious that if you swatted one, they’d often swat you right back.

    No matter how bad the bug situation is, I can’t resort to using conventional bug repellents to protect me.

    Most traditional bug sprays use DEET as the primary ingredient. And sure, DEET works, but it also comes with its own health risks.

    Health Concerns of DEET

    DEET has been:

    Here in Canada where I live, DEET is permitted in bug sprays but the government recommends children under the age of 12 “do not use a DEET product on a daily basis for more than a month” and babies under 6 months should not use them at all.

    When Should You Use DEET?

    Suddenly bugs have become a lot riskier than the annoying itchy bite. With concerns over West Nile Virus, Zika Virus and Lyme Disease, you can use your own discretion and safety measures which would include covering your face with a mask when spraying, not touching your eyes, ears or mouth if using, and bathing thoroughly as soon as possible after use.

    The Environment Working Group states:
    “Among the three repellent chemicals that are EWG’s top picks is DEET, which is widely used but much maligned. DEET’s safety profile is better than many people assume. Its effectiveness at preventing bites is approached by only a few other repellent ingredients. DEET isn’t a perfect choice nor the only choice. But weighed against the consequences of Zika disease and West Nile virus, we believe it is a reasonable one.”

    Of course, there is debate about what actually causes Zika, so I will just leave this from NPR here, and this from GreenMedInfo here.

    You will need to weigh the risks, pros and cons based on where you live, your exposure and other factors that could increase your risk.

    Of course, if you’re in a high-risk area and it’s for a short duration, there’s always a bug net. Nerdy but effective!

    Natural Bug Repellent - Bug Net - Meghan & Josh

    What Else Is In Conventional Bug Repellent?

    DEET isn’t the only ingredient in bug repellent that gives me pause. I took a look at a bug repellent made by Johnson and Johnson, one of our good ‘ol healthwashing friends. In addition to DEET, they use:

    • Fragrance: This is an umbrella term for thousands of chemicals that are untested and potentially unsafe. Fragrance is also used in beauty care and cleaning products, and can trigger allergic reactions, respiratory issues like asthma, headaches and hormonal disruptions.
    • Ethanol: Otherwise known as alcohol, ethanol is used as an emulsifier in bug spray and can also be found in disinfectants and anti-bacterial soaps and hand washes. It’s associated with skin conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema and can disrupt our skin’s microbiome.
    • Butane, propane, isobutane: These propellants help spray the liquid from the can. Inhaling these petroleum products can impact both the brain and the heart, plus inhalant abuse – you may have heard of huffing – can impact children and teens. And these chemicals are highly flammable! They’re not the kind of thing I want around my campfire.

    Natural Bug Repellent Options

    Natural Bug RepellentNatural Bug Repellent

    The good news is that there are many natural bug repellent options and you can easily DIY your own bug spray. Many traditional bug sprays incorporate essential oils like citronella, eucalyptus, camphor, and others into their formulations, and with good reason: they work. Research shows that plant-based oils can protect against common bugs like mosquitoes.

    Some of the natural bug repellent options are:

    As I’ve mentioned before, the quality of essential oils you use is important. If you’re going to opt for a natural bug repellent, ensure that the essential oils will actually protect you and do what the company claims they will.

    If you’re on board with making your own natural bug repellent, this is my favourite recipe to use. I whip up batches of this every summer and spray liberally as needed. And, unlike some traditional bug sprays, this one actually smells good too!

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    Description

    A natural bug repellent that will keep those bug bites at bay.

    • 1 cup Witch Hazel
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 Tbsp Vodka (optional)
    • 10 drops citronella or lemongrass essential oil
    • 10 drops clove essential oil
    • 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
    • 10 drops peppermint essential oil

    1. Combine all ingredients in your glass spray bottle.
    2. Shake before use.

    • Prep Time: 5 mins
    • Category: Beauty Care

    Natural Bug Repellent RecipeNatural Bug Repellent Recipe

    *This post contains affiliate links.

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    Meghan Telpner

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