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is safe for home use. Also, ensure that you
read the label fully before use.
travel-friendly bottle
DEET-based personal insect repellents
are safe, effective and usually available
in small, portable squeeze-bottles or
spray-on cans, which makes it incredibly
convenient for everyone.
A rule of thumb is that the stronger the
product, the longer the protection hours,
just like the SPF rating for sunscreens.
Where 7%strength products offer 2 hours
of protection, 15%strength provides up to
six hours, which is fantasticwhen you find
yourself trekking in the dense greenery of
Taman Negara.
Exercise personal responsibility and
care by protecting yourself and your loved
ones with a personal insect repellent -
don’t fall prey to Dengue Fever.
L
iving
in the tropics can
be really fun, what with
sunshine, rain and virtu-
ally no threat of winter.
Thus, it is little wonder
that outdoor activities are
a huge and normal part
of the lives of tropical dwellers all year
round.
The risk mosquitoes pose
While we may be familiar with howmos-
quito bites cause swelling and itchiness of
varying levels of annoyance, a burgeoning
problem in tropical countries is Dengue
Fever, a mosquito-borne tropical disease
caused by the dengue virus. Transmitted
by mosquitoes from the genus Aedes, its
worst form, Dengue Haemorraegic Fever,
can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Prevention and risk-lowering can be
done through two methods – first, though
practicing lifestyle habits that prevent
the breeding of mosquitoes, and second,
through the use of mosquito repellents. As
we may not always be able to control our
environment, we still retain the power to
control our exposure to these pests.
Personal mosquito repellents
How many times have you taken a stroll
out after dark only to find your neck
itching from a mosquito bite? If you have
children, have you ever given second or
third thoughts about bringing them out
to the park for fear of getting bitten by
these painful pests?
Of course, lugging around insect repel-
lent devices is an awfully cumbersome
affair. So, it would certainly make better
sense to use a personal insect repellent,
such as a DEET-based lotion or spray-on.
HEALTH
The Great Outdoors:
Enjoy Mozzie-Free Mobility
DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-
meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient
in many insect repellent products. It is
designed for direct application to people’s
skin to repel insects.
These lotion or spray-ons can literally
be used anywhere, at any time and come in
a variety of formulations and sizes depend-
ing on the individual’s needs. They are not
only convenient, but highly effective due
to the broad-spectrum efficacy and long-
lasting nature of the active ingredient’s
chemistry.
DEET-based repellents here usually
reach amaximumof 15%strength, which
ensures approximately 6 hours or so of
protection. To be very sure of the safety
of your personal repellent, though, look
for those that clearly label the class it is
in - a “KELAS IV” (Class Four) repellent ap-
proved by the Pesticide Board of Malaysia
You love the great outdoors, but pests likemosquitoes do, too.
Jamilah Lim
findsways
to keep you and your loved ones protected.