CDC Endorses Two New Products to Protect Against Biting Mosquitoes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has endorsed two new products that can help protect against biting mosquitoes.

In addition to the familiar DEET-based mosquito repellents, the CDC this spring has recommended two other active ingredients: picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. Products based on those are now available.

"Products containing DEET, picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are all excellent choices. … We want people to enjoy their spring and summer free of West Nile virus," said CDC director Julie L. Gerberding, MD. One new product, Cutter Advanced, contains 7 percent picaridin, also known as KBR 3023, which has been used in Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin America for years. It is the only commercially available picaridin repellent in America.

In its July 2005 issue, Consumer Reports tested Cutter Advanced against Cutter Unscented, which contains 10 percent DEET.

The Cutter Advanced with picaridin worked just as well, Consumer Reports said, and it felt lighter on the skin, didn't harm plastics or other synthetics, and didn't have a distinct chemical odor.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus. The other ingredient the CDC added to its list of recommendations is a plant-based repellent, also known as P-Menthane diol, or PMD.

It provided protection time similar to low-concentration DEET products in two recent studies, federal officials said.

Natural oil of lemon eucalyptus is available in Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, a nongreasy product with a pleasant smell. Chemical versions of the ingredient are available in other products.

The Metro Public Health Department and the CDC urges Americans to use repellents to protect themselves against the West Nile virus and other mosquito borne diseases, which can be fatal.

A mosquito becomes infected with West Nile when it feeds on the blood of an infected bird. The mosquito then can transfer the virus to another bird, animal or human.

Just one bite can cause serious illness or death. There were 2,470 cases of West Nile virus reported nationwide last mosquito season, with 88 fatalities.

The true number of cases is thought to be much higher because milder cases go unreported, said the CDC's Petersen.

There have been no West Nile cases reported in humans or birds in Nashville this year.