Mosquitoes (known as mozzies in Australia) are found almost all over the world. There are over 2,500 species world-wide. Mosquitoes are estimated to infect over 700 million people annually (worldwide) and cause about 2 million deaths annually.
In Australia we have about 300 species but less than 20 of these are of worry to human health. We don’t have malaria in Australia and there are very few (if any) mosquito caused deaths. The main diseases in Australia that mosquitoes do infect humans with are Ross River Fever, Barmah Forest Virus, Dengue Fever and Australian Encephalitis. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe and sometimes debilitating.
However most people do find mosquito bites annoying, and it is wise to try and NOT get bitten.
There are a multitude of remedies and repellents available. DEET based solutions are effective but DEET is a synthetic chemical solvent. The Rid website says to “avoid situations where leaks or spills of this product could contact and damage spectacle frames,contact lenses, soft plastics, PVC, vinyl, leather, some clothing dyes, timber fittings, painted and polished surfaces.
The DEET in RID softens these materials, and the damage cannot be repaired. ”
The mosiguard website states “Deet is readily absorbed into the skin which can lead to problems, especially in young children.”
Mosiguard has been tested extensively and recently the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine tested mosiguard against some of the most popular repellents and found that Mosiguard was as “effective as the strongest available deet repellent over an eleven hour period“.
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