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Diethyltoluamide News
Swatting Teaches Mosquitoes a Lesson They Won't Forget
Posted 25 Jan 2018 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Jan. 25, 2018 – Those pesky mosquitoes may be smarter than you thought: Turns out that swatting them away may actually teach them to leave you alone. Researchers found mosquitoes can be taught to associate the odor of a person or animal to a mechanical shock similar to being swatted. Once the pests learn the link, they'll avoid that scent – and their target. "Once mosquitoes learned ...
Bio-Engineered Mosquitoes to be Released In U.S.
Posted 9 Nov 2017 by Drugs.com
Bio-engineered mosquitoes will be released in many parts of the United States next year in an attempt to reduce wild populations of mosquitoes that can transmit diseases such as Zika, yellow fever and Dengue fever. The lab-grown male Asian Tiger mosquitoes are infected with bacteria that prevents reproduction, but does not pose a risk to other insects or animals, according to Kentucky-based ...
Treeless Tropics, More Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes?
Posted 2 Nov 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Nov. 2, 2017 – Deforestation doesn't just strip the landscape. In tropical regions, it may also lead to more disease-carrying mosquitoes, University of Florida researchers say. "Converting pristine tropical forests into areas for agriculture or other uses creates a habitat for the mosquitoes that transmit human diseases," lead study author Nathan Burkett-Cadena said in a university ...
Genetic Tweaks in Mosquitoes Might Curb Malaria Transmission
Posted 29 Sep 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Sept. 28, 2017 – Two new methods of genetic modification may reduce the risk of mosquitoes spreading the infectious disease malaria to people, researchers report. Malaria kills more than 400,000 people worldwide each year. It's a disease that's transmitted by mosquitoes to people. The majority of those who die from the disease are children aged 5 and under in sub-Saharan Africa. The ...
Don't Let the Tick Stick
Posted 24 Sep 2017 by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, Sept. 24, 2017 – As tick populations and the threats they pose increase across the United States, people need to know how to deal with them, a skin doctor suggests. Ticks can cause serious illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus and alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy). "Although most ticks do not carry disease, it's important to be mindful of ...
Sound the Mosquito Alarm, Across the USA
Posted 21 Sep 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Sept. 21, 2017 – Two species of disease-transmitting mosquitoes could likely flourish in most of the United States, government researchers report. Specifically, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus could survive and reproduce for at least part of the year in three-quarters of the counties in the lower 48 states if introduced there, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for ...
Beat Back Mosquitos After Hurricane Irma
Posted 18 Sep 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Sept. 18, 2017 – As if those who weathered Hurricanes Irma and Harvey don't have enough to worry about, one bug expert warns that the standing water left behind is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Residents need to drain birdbaths, pots and anything else in their yards that can provide egg-laying sites for the disease-carrying insects. "No container is too small to empty," ...
Health Tip: Apply Bug Spray Properly
Posted 14 Aug 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Keeping you and your kids itch-free by applying bug repellant can also keep away nasty mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika and West Nile. Here's how to apply bug spray properly, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says: Follow the product label's instructions carefully. Do not apply bug spray to the eyes, nose or mouth. Put repellant on your own hands, then apply to a ...
Health Tip: Preventing Tick Bites
Posted 22 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
-- A bite from an infected tick can cause a number of ills, including Lyme disease. But taking precautions before going outside can help protect you. Here are suggestions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Know where ticks are likely to gather, and try to avoid them. Steer clear of tall, thick vegetation. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and spray clothing with .5 ...
Health Tip: Keep Mosquitos Out of Your Yard
Posted 12 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
-- In addition to being a nuisance and a source of itch, mosquitos can carry a host of serious diseases, including Zika and West Nile. So how do you rid them from your yard? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests: Every week, empty and clean any outside containers that may hold water. These may include trash cans, bird baths or planters. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. ...
For a Fun and Safe Tropical Getaway, Plan Ahead
Posted 17 Feb 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Feb. 17, 2017 – If you're planning a tropical getaway, be sure to pack old standbys like bug spray and sunscreen – and maybe a lot more, a doctor advises. "In places like the Caribbean and South and Central America, where it is already summertime, people can potentially be exposed to health risks that they may not have at home," said infectious disease specialist Dr. Christopher Ohl. He ...
Drought May Beckon Bigger West Nile Outbreaks
Posted 8 Feb 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2017 – A parched climate might be the perfect environment for spreading West Nile virus, a new study suggests. Researchers examined 15 years of data on West Nile virus infections in people across the United States and found that epidemics were larger during years of drought. There were also bigger outbreaks in areas that had not experienced large epidemics of the ...
Health Tip: Choosing a Pest Control Service
Posted 23 Jan 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Pests are a nuisance and may be a health hazard. But you're not doing your family any favors by using toxic chemicals inappropriately. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends: Get estimates from several recommended companies in your area. Ask questions about their processes. Ask how long each company has been in business at the current location, and check to see if there have been ...
Ticks Carrying Lyme Disease Confirmed in Eastern National Parks
Posted 17 Jan 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 – Planning a hiking trip in an eastern U.S. national park? Better pack tick repellent – a new study found these parks are home to ticks that carry Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks – also known as deer ticks – carrying Lyme disease were found in nine national parks: Acadia National Park in Maine; Catoctin Mountain Park and Monocacy National Battlefield in Maryland; Fire ...
DEET Repellents Safe in Pregnancy to Prevent Zika, Researchers Say
Posted 11 Oct 2016 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Oct. 10, 2016 – DEET insect repellents won't harm a pregnant woman or her fetus when used as instructed to prevent infection with the Zika virus, a new research analysis suggests. Exposure to the mosquito-transmitted virus during pregnancy can cause devastating birth defects, including microcephaly, which results in abnormally small heads and brains. Because of this, recommendations to ...
