Mosquito Bite Prevention message

Mosquito Bite
Prevention
Not all mosquitoes are the same. Different mosquitoes spread
different viruses and bite at different times of the day.
Type of Mosquito

Viruses spread

Biting habits

Aedes aegypti,
Aedes albopictus

Chikungunya,
Dengue, Zika

Primarily daytime, but
can also bite at night

Culex species

West Nile

Evening to morning

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites
Use insect repellent
Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent
with one of the following active ingredients. When used as directed,
EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective,
even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Active ingredient
Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection

DEET
Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
IR3535
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
2-undecanone
* The EPA’s search tool is available at: www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-insect-repellent-right-you
October 4, 2016

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For local resources and information about Zika, contact the
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health at (340) 712-6205
or visit doh.vi.gov. For general information about Zika,
call 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.cdc.gov/zika.

Find the insect
repellent that’s right
for you by using

EPA’s search tool*.

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites (continued)
ŠŠ Always follow the product label instructions.
ŠŠ Reapply insect repellent every few hours, depending on which product and
strength you choose.
»» Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
»» If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

Natural insect repellents (repellents not registered with EPA)
ŠŠ The effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural
repellents, is not known.
ŠŠ To protect yourself against diseases like chikungunya, dengue, and Zika, CDC and
EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.
ŠŠ When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and
effective. For more information: www2.epa.gov/insect-repellents

If you have a baby or child
ŠŠ Always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children.
ŠŠ Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age.
ŠŠ Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs, or
ŠŠ Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
ŠŠ Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or
irritated skin.
»» Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
ŠŠ Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthanediol (PMD) on children under 3 years of age.

Treat clothing and gear
ŠŠ Treat items such as boots, pants, socks, and tents with permethrin or purchase
permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
»» Permethrin-treated clothing will protect you after multiple washings.
See product information to find out how long the protection will last.
»» If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.
»» Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.

Mosquito-proof your home
ŠŠ Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes
outside.
ŠŠ Use air conditioning when available.
ŠŠ Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs in and near standing water.
»» Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold
water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash
containers. Check inside and outside your home.

www.cdc.gov/features/StopMosquitoes