How to avoid getting West Nile Virus

[ivyblossom]

Gather round, my friends, gather around. It's time for the mosquito lecture. Yes, it's mosquito season again, and this time it comes with West Nile Virus. I want to tell you have to prevent mosquito bites. My quals: I've been camping since I was six years old, and I mean camping without my family. I won't even count the hundreds of tent trailer trips I've been on. I've been camping in the wilds of Canada with strangers since the age of six. I started working at a mid-northern girls' summer camp when I was fifteen and spent between two and four months there every summer for the following eight years. I shall hereafter refer to myself as 'the mosquito expert'.

Don't get bitten by a mosquito. Hey, who wants to get bitten by a mosquito anyway, right? Well, I am concerned about your health, so I'm going to tell you exactly how to avoid getting bitten.

One word: DEET. This is the only thing that works. Mosquitoes just laugh at everything else, no matter what people tell you. It probably causes cancer, but these are the risks you have to take. Skin So Soft does not work. Citronella is pretty but also does not work. The only things that I will stake my life on working to prevent mosquito bites is any product with DEET as more than 90% of the content.

Some favourites: Deep Woods OFF! is probably the one you'd want, particularly since they make a cream that's also a sunscreen. See, mosquitoes aren't really sun creatures, so you're more likely to avoid them if you're in the sun, but for years there's been a conflict between sunscreen and mosquito repellant. I always go with repellant, because I only burn when I'm canoeing for days on end and the I'm getting double sun (from the sun and from the sun bouncing off the water). Very bad of me, I realize this. But Deep Woods has a good rep, and I'm thrilled to see them do a combo cream. I used to use it as an oil, but I guess they don't sell that anymore. It will dissolve your rubber boots if you spill it. I'd avoid the aresols. They seem smarter, but they're not. You just lose most of it in the air, and you don't get the accuracy you get with a cream. Also, that stuff is MURDER on your lungs. My sentimental favourite repellant is Muskol. Hmmmmm Muskol.

If you're going to be need forests at all, shower at night before you go to bed. If you shower in the morning you will be more attractive to mosquitoes, who will aim for your scalp if it's all they can get at. Wear a hat.

Don't keep standing water around. Mosquito eggs hatch in four days in standing water, and any standing water will generate mosquitoes, including a puddle from a tap or garden hose.

If you have a semi-indoor area that you want to fumigate of mosquitoes, keeps some mosquito coils on hand. Last time I checked they still sold these at Canadian Tire, and if you're in the US I have no idea where you go to buy such things. Your local hardware store should have it. Mosquito coil is like curled, thick green incense that smells pretty horrible. You burn it and it kills every flying thing in the area. If you don't have a problem ignoring warnings you can use them indoors too. If gives you a great smoker's voice. *coughs* The only disadvantage other than any medical issues you might have later on, is that you have to sweep up a lot of dead bug bodies later on. That's okay with me.

Eat oranges, avoid bananas. This sounds silly, but it's actually true. It's the difference between being the person mosquitoes like and the one they ignore.

If you're camping, air out your beds and tents during the day, but make sure your tent is zipped up tight by 5pm. You think I'm being silly, but trust me. Yeah, it's lovely and sunny, yes, there are no mosquitoes out at 5pm, but I SWEAR TO GOD if you wait until 5:30pm your tent will be FULL OF BUGS by the time to go to bed. I don't know why but it's TRUE.

Mosquitoes don't particularly like smoke, but it's hard to breathe when you're standing in the way of the smoke. Kind of a catch-22 there.

In the shade: socks, long sleeved shirts, a hat. Remember the back of your neck when you put the repellant on.

Aww man. I wanna go camping! *pouts*

Comments

[stephandra.livejournal.com]

I live in Louisiana. There are swarms here. SWARMS. Luckily, I know the good stuff because our excellent tour guide told us while I was on a trip in Costa Rica how to aovid them. Repel 100, best friends of LSU students and the state at large.

I think they are immune to off down here.

[karabou.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the info! I, too, love camping... it's one of the best things ever. <3

[waiman.livejournal.com]

If I eat extra oranges, will they null the effect of the bananas? :D

I like my mosquito better...

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

And garlic. Mosquitos, like vampires, do not like garlic. Sure, nobody else will want to be around you either, but it's always worked for me. :)

Thumbs Up

[blankcanvas.livejournal.com]

Your expert advice is appreciated. :)

Mozzie Mania

[switchknife.livejournal.com]

Have lived extensively in both West Africa and India. I know. About. Mosquitoes.

Truth be told--if a mosquito wants you, you can't do anything about it. Nothing works. Some people are just natural mosquito-magnets. You go to sleep in the same room as them, and wake up bite-free--but they're covered in horrific little circular welts that look... well.... painful. And itch with a viciousness that should be reserved for Cornish Pixies.

Before you ask--I'm one of those magnets. I have been laughed at, stared at, wondered at and generally ostracized for being what I am. (Um. I mean the mosquito-magnet part. Not the...

... Never mind.)

If I should still suggest something, the Indian brand of 'Odomos' is probably the most (relatively) successful mosquito-repellant cream around. It smells like one of Snape's personal projects, but at least it half-way works.

Can't believe I'm discussing this.

The wonders of LJ.

Re: Mozzie Mania

[http://users.livejournal.com/anam_cara_/]

I too, am a mosquito-magnet. I swear it's my blood-type or genes or something. And it's absolutely true that they will ignore an entire group of people just to feast on me (no one has believed me about that). To make it worse, I'm allergic to their bites. The welts get twice as big, and take over a week to heal, and if I'm really bitten up, I'll get all puky-sick. I used to have to take Benedryl before it was available over-the-counter.

I like the oranges and garlic advice, it seems safer than DEET-- I'll have to see how that works out this summer.

Re: Mozzie Mania

[switchknife.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* Ah, good to see another person in misery!

Er. That's not what I meant... :)

Yes, it sucks, doesn't it, being the Special of the Day for the tiny little bloodsuckers! It's peculiar to have so many females attracted to oneself, particularly when they are not of one's species.

There is scientific research into this actually, and to prove just how much of a life I don't have, here's a link that explains and proves the existence of mosquito magnets:

What Mosquitoes Want - Secrets of Host Attraction (http://www.rense.com/general30/mos.htm)

Apparently some of us exude scents that attract female mosquitoes.

Pity it doesn't stretch across species, eh? *grin*

Re: Mozzie Mania

[maruchina.livejournal.com]

Another mosquito-magnet, here. I've tried the oranges, it didn't help last year. The only thing that helps for me, is LOTS of repellent, and covering up as much as I can. I still like camping though, for some reason. I must be masochistic.

Re: Mozzie Mania

[switchknife.livejournal.com]

>I must be masochistic.

You certainly are. *rolls eyes* :) Just give me my sterile, concrete jungle... the company of my silicon Beloved... I need not those ghastly green things. --What're they called again...?

Love the Escher icon by the way. Big Escher fan here. Have been too busy polishing my broom to notice much else lately...

Re: Mozzie Mania

[rinkori.livejournal.com]

I read somewhere that mosquitoes, like gentlemen, prefer blondes. Perhaps that's a factor.

Re: Mozzie Mania

[switchknife.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, I'm not blonde. Just the opposite, in fact. And another interesting point... the mosquitoes we're discussing here are the 'ladies'... :)

Re: Mozzie Mania

[rinkori.livejournal.com]

*tries to think of something to say that won't wedge her foot even further into her mouth*

Errrr... Perhaps they're crossdressing mosquitoes?

*gives up on the whole "replying intelligently" thing*

Re: Mozzie Mania

[switchknife.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* :) No worries! I quite like crossdressing, actually... Although the thought of mosquitoes sharing my 'habit' is a bit... um... oh God, it's HILARIOUS!

[kokopoko.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

Did you know some town in Minnesota holds a Ms. Quito contest every summer? Scary but true. The winner is the gangliest, knobby kneed girl.

[pingviini.livejournal.com]

I started itching all over just from reading this.
*wanders off to eat an orange*

[wyndd.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!!

[myclevername.livejournal.com]

i lived in brazil for two years, and i live there for five months out of every year now . . . and i'm a natural mosquito repellent. works for me.

the only thing else that i would suggest, i fans. if you don't have mosquito netting, then blowing an ocillating fan at yourself does the trick.

[presentiment.livejournal.com]

I had West Nile Virus last semester, be it a rather mild version. It was still horrible, believe me. I hate mosquitos. HATE THEM.

[midnightbast.livejournal.com]

I dont get bitten that often and I thank my lucky stars for that because when I do they swell up to about penny sized welts >_< and even bigger if it bites my thigh for some reason :/