Mosquito Bite Prevention for Travelers

Mosquito Bite Prevention for Travelers

Mosquitoes spread many types of viruses and parasites that can cause diseases like Chikungunya, dengue, Zika, and malaria. If you are traveling to an area where malaria is found, talk to your healthcare provider about malaria prevention medication that may be available.

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Follow this instructions:

Keep mosquitoes out of your hotel room or lodging

• Choose a hotel or lodging with air conditioning or screens on windows and doors. 
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are outside or in a room that is not well screened. Mosquitoes can live indoors and will bite at any time, day or night. 
• Buy a bed net at your local outdoor store or online before traveling overseas.
• Choose a WHOPES-approved bed net (like Pramax*): compact, white, rectangular, with 156 holes per square inch, and long enough to tuck under the mattress. 
• Permethrin-treated bed nets provide more protection than untreated nets. 
• Permethrin is an insecticide that kills mosquitoes and other insects. 
• Do not wash bed nets or expose them to sunlight. This will break down the insecticide more quickly.

For more information on bed nets can be found HERE

Cover up!

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. 
• Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Treat clothes with permethrin or another Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insecticide for extra protection. 

Use only an EPA-registered insect repellent

• Consider bringing insect repellent with you. 
• Always follow the product label instructions. 
• Reapply insect repellent every few hours: Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing. If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

For more information visit HERE

Natural insect repellents not  registered with EPA

In the United States, the EPA has not evaluated for effectiveness most of the commonly known natural insect repellents.

Examples of ingredients used in unregistered  insect repellents include: citronella oil, cedar oil, geranium oil, peppermint and peppermint oil,  pure oil of lemon eucalyptus, soybean oil.  CDC recommends that you use an insect repellent containing an active ingredient shown to be both safe and effective.

Use an insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients:

• DEET, brand name examples are Off, Cutter, Sawyer, Ultrathon.
• Picardidin, also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin: brand name examples are Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, Autan (outside the United State).
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD), brand name example is Repel
• IR3535, brand name examples are Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition and Skin Smart

If you are travelling with a baby or child:

• Always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children. 
• Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age. 
• Instead, dress infants or small children in clothing that covers arms and legs, or cover the crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting. Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face. Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, mouth, cut or irritated skin.

Treat clothing and gear

• Use permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, tents) or purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Read product information to find out how long the protection will last. 
• If treating items yourself, always follow the product instructions. 
• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.