Q. Why should I use insect repellent? A. Insect repellents (especially insect repellent soaps)
can help reduce exposure to mosquito bites that may carry viruses such as
West Nile virus that can cause serious illness and even death. Using
insect repellent allows you to continue to play and work outdoors with a
reduced risk of mosquito bites.
Q. When should I use mosquito repellent? A. Apply repellent (or use a soap
designed to repel insects and bugs) when you are
going to be outdoors. Even if you don’t notice
mosquitoes there is a good chance that they are
around. Many of the mosquitoes that carry West Nile
virus bite between dusk and dawn. If you are
outdoors around these times of the day, it is
especially important to apply repellent. In many
parts of the country, there are mosquitoes that also
bite during the day, and some of these mosquitoes
have also been found to carry West Nile virus.
Q. How often should repellent be reapplied? A. In general you should re-apply
repellent if you are being bitten by mosquitoes.
Always follow the directions on the product you are
using. Sweating, perspiration or getting wet may
mean that you need to re-apply repellent more
frequently. The best method for using a
repellent is using a soap that covers the whole body
for total protection.
