Still, rates of West Nile are low, especially when compared to rates of insect-borne disease in other parts of the world. Dr. Mark Fradin, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who did a study comparing commercially available insect repellents that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine last summer, says that there are a number of ways that people can safely protect themselves from mosquitoes. Below, Dr. Fradin discusses the most effective repellents on the market, as well as other approaches for avoiding bites.
How can people reduce their risk of being bitten?
I always talk to people about a three-pronged approach. The first step is avoidance, which means that if you find that the mosquitoes are most likely to be around your house and biting at dusk or dawn, avoid being outside at those times of day. If you're camping, keep your tent away from wet areas that tend to be havens for mosquitoes.
The second step is protection that can be achieved through covering the skin by wearing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and a hat. The third step is protecting the skin by applying insect repellent.
What types of repellents are commercially available?
Repellents essentially fall into two categories. The first category is "chemical," which means that they're synthetic or man-made. The chemical repellents sold in the United States are DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) and IR3535. In a laboratory study that we did with a particular species of mosquito, DEET was found to be the most effective commercially available repellent.
