
Mosquitoes can be a big pest, leaving behind itchy bumps on skin and potentially spreading serious diseases, such as West Nile virus. Sam Telford III is a professor of infectious disease and global health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and a commissioner for the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project. Some counties in his state have detected West Nile virus this summer, and he said the risk will peak in the next few weeks. That’s why it’s important to protect yourself from mosquitoes. But some products meant to deter them work, and others don’t do the job. What works & doesn’t Citronella, for example, is less effective than other products such as DEET, according to Telford. Patio appliances that heat repellents to keep groups safe outdoors were shown to be highly effective against four species of mosquitoes. Wearables, however, don’t reduce mosquitoes’ attraction to humans, Telford pointed out. While some think wearing long sleeves and long pants will help, keep in mind that mosquitoes can bite through tight-fitting clothing if it’s made of thin material. A better alternative is to wear loose-fitting clothing that has been treated with an insecticide like permethrin (0.5%). Use caution with clothing that is still wet from treatment. It is toxic to cats. Insect repellents with active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon… read on > read on >