With the warmer weather coming, we see people buying mosquito repellent at the pharmacy to prevent mosquito bites. Some people are asking us about how to avoid the Zika virus disease.
Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms that can include mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days. Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment for Zika virus infection. The best prevention is to avoid mosquito bites.
The following website indicates the countries and territories that are reporting active mosquito transmission of Zika virus. The list include: The carribbean, central america, the pacific islands and south americas.http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
If you are travelling to these areas, you should consider taking the following steps to avoid mosquito bites:
· Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
· Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
· Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
· Use insect repellents such as "OFF SPRAY" (picture) that contains DEET as the active ingredient
It is important to pay attention to the concentration of the DEET and the instructions on how to apply the mosquito repellent. For example,
The “OFF! Deep woods insect repellent” contains 25% DEET, repels mosquitos for about 8 hours and it is NOT recommended for children 12 years and under.
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| Only $10.99 at Custom Care Pharmacy |
The "Off! family care" insect repellent contains 15% DEET, repels mosquitos for about 5 hours and it is NOT recommended for children 12 years and under.
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| Only $8.99 at Custom Care Pharmacy |
The “OFF!® familycare® Summer Splash®” contains 7% DEET, repels mosquitos for about 3 hours and it is NOT recommended for infant under 6 months of age.
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| Only $8.99 at Custom Care Pharmacy |
The “OFF!® FAMILYCARE®FOR USE ON KIDS TROPICAL FRESH®SPRAY contains 5% DEET, repels mosquitos for about 2 hours and it is NOT recommended for infant under 6 months of age
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Some general tips on using mosquito repellents:
Spray the repellent on the palm of hand first and then apply sparingly to the face, avoiding the eyes. Do not spray directly onto face. Do not apply near eyes and mouth. Apply sparingly around ears.
When applying mosquito repellent on children, do not apply to children’s hand. Instead, apply the repellent on your own hands and then put it on the child.
You can spray the repellent on the outer surfaces of clothing such as shirts, pants, socks and hats. However, do not use under clothing.
If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen before applying insect repellent.
For infants that are too young to use mosquito repellent, mosquito netting can be used to cover infants in carriers, strollers or cribs to protect them from mosquito bites.
If you have any further questions about mosquito repellents, feel free to ask our pharmacists at
Custom Care Pharmacy. 905-305-0111
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