Protect against West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne and insect-borne illnesses with insect repellent when walking outdoors. The Center for Disease Control recommends mosquito repellent with 5% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), as the best insect repellent for West Nile Virus mosquitoes. Over 50% DEET provides no further protection and can damage some fabrics.
1. Cutter Advanced Picaridin Insect Repellent Pump Spray
Wendy Bumgardner ©
At last, this one is just about perfect. It is truly odorless. It really works. It doesn't eat through your fabric like DEET. Cutter Advanced Picaridin comes in a pump spray and is safe to use on skin and fabric. Tests show it is as effective as DEET.
2. Off! Deep Woods Insect Repellent
Courtesy of Pricegrabber.
You can get this in pump, aerosol spray or towlettes, and check to see what the concentration of DEET is for each. Too much and you can damage fabrics. You may be able to find unscented versions, which I prefer.
3. Mosquito Head Net
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If you are in a heavily-infested mosquito area, a head net may be the only way to fend them off - or to not inhale them.
4. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus
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Natural oils are used from the eucalyptus citriodora tree. It is gentle to skin and won't harm fabrics or surfaces. Repels mosquitoes, sandflies, ticks, midges, stable flies and more for up to six hours.
5. Permethrin Tick Repellent for Clothing and Gear
Wendy Bumgardner ©
The CDC recommends permethrin-based repellents for clothing and gear. Spray this on your outdoors clothing, hat, shoes, etc. and the mosquito and tick protection lasts for a couple of weeks, even with washing.
6. Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Spray
With or without sunscreen SPF 15. Waterproof, DEET-free, PABA-free, with a Gentle Breeze scent or unscented.7. Ex Officio BugsAway Women's Clothing and Gear
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Sick and tired of spraying all the time? Now the BugsAway insect repellent finish is incorporated into all kinds of excellent outdoor clothing and activewear. These garments are odorless and made of great technical fabrics for all of your active outdoors needs. The repellent effect remains through dozens of washings.
8. Ex Officio BugsAway Men's Clothing and Gear
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Keep the bugs away with these clothing and gear items with an insect repellent finish.
