Effective insect repellents reduce chances of bites and disease

MOSES LAKE — There are biting, stinging little bugs out there, some of which carry nasty diseases. And since humans figured out bugs carry disease, they have managed to find some pretty effective insect repellents.

Grant County has its share of nasty, disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks. Ann Belchik-Moser, director of Grant County Mosquito Control District 1, said there are options when it comes to repellent.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a recommendation when it comes to repellent.

“Number one, hands down, is DEET. That’s the active ingredient,” Belchik-Moser said. “Picaridin is another one. And then if you want something a little more natural, there’s oil of lemon eucalyptus.”

There is a lemon eucalyptus tree, and it’s the oil from that tree that repels or kills insects. There’s a synthetic derivative of the active ingredient, as well.

A can or bottle of insect repellent will be emblazoned with a number, which is an indicator of the amount of active ingredient. The higher the number, the greater the amount.

As far as which repellent to use, that depends.

“It kind of depends on how long you’re going to be outside,” Belchik-Moser said.

People who plan to be outside one to two hours can use repellents with 10% active ingredient, according to information from the mosquito control district. For people who are going to be outside two to four hours, repellents with 15% DEET and picaridin, and 30% oil of lemon eucalyptus, are good options. If it’s all day outside, five to eight hours, a repellent with 20% to 50% DEET is recommended.

The 20% to 50% DEET also is recommended to protect against ticks. In places that have both mosquitoes and ticks, the 20% to 50% DEET may offer the most well-rounded protection.

Depending on the amount of time spent outdoors, the repellent may need to be reapplied. Children two months of age and older can use repellent with up to 30% DEET.

For people who plan to be outside a lot, some manufacturers make clothing treated with permethrin, which provides protection against mosquitoes and ticks. The treatments are effective through multiple washings.

There’s also do-it-yourself treatment of clothes with permethrin. Since it’s a pesticide, it shouldn’t be applied to skin -- it’s only for clothing.

Clothing should dry completely before wearing. And the DIY applications have to be repeated, even on items like shoes that don’t get washed. How often the treatment must be reapplied depends on the product.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.