In general, higher percentages of the active ingredient provide longer-lasting protection. However, this increase in protection time maximizes at about 50% DEET.
Country Classification Technical Guidance
Guidelines for US Citizens and Residents Living in Areas with Zika
Follow instructions for applying repellent on children:
Informacin sobre el zika para viajeros
Presentations for Health Professionals
When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Do not apply repellent to childrens hands because they tend to put their hands in their mouths.
If you are also using sunscreen, apply it first, let it dry, and then apply repellent. Do not use products that contain both sunscreen and repellent.
Consider using clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) that are treated withpermethrin(an insecticide). You can buy pre-treated clothes or treat your own clothes. If treating items yourself, follow instructions carefully. Donotuse permethrin directly on skin.
Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
Choose hotel rooms or other accommodations that are air conditioned or have good window and door screens so bugs cant get inside. If bugs can get into where you are sleeping, sleep under a permethrin-treated bed net that can be tucked under the mattress. When outdoors, use area repellents (such as mosquito coils) containing metofluthrin or allethrin.
When using insect repellent, follow the instructions on the package and reapply as directed:
What to know before you go. Bugs can spread diseases. Share ourprintable graphicsto help prevent bug bites while traveling.
Bugs (including mosquitoes, ticks, and some flies) can spread diseases (including Zika, dengue, and Lyme disease), many of which cannot be prevented or treated with a vaccine or medicine. Reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites. See below for special instructions to protect babies, children, and pregnant women.
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Use EPA-registered insect repellents that contain at least20% DEET(products include Cutter Backwoods and Off! Deep Woods) for protection against mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs. Other repellents protect against mosquitoes but may not be effective against ticks or other bugs:
Travelers with Weakened Immune Systems
Directrices para ciudadanos y residentes estadounidenses que viven en reas con zika
Travel Medicine References: Books, Journals, Articles & Websites
Children should not touch repellent. Adults should apply it to their hands and gently spread it over the childs exposed skin.
For babies under 2 months old, protect them by draping mosquito netting over their carrier or car seat. Netting should have an elastic edge for a tight fit.
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Keep repellent out of the reach of children.
Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years old.
As much as possible, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and a hat. Tuck your shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your socks for maximum protection. Some bugs, such as tsetse flies, can bite through thin fabric.
Some infections, including Zika, can spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus, so pregnant women should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites while traveling. In the case of Zika, because infection in a pregnant woman is linked to serious birth defects and miscarriage, CDC recommends that pregnant women not travel toareas with Zika outbreaks.
Find the EPA-registered insect repellent that is right for you. The effectiveness of insect repellents that are not registered with the EPA, including some natural repellents, is not known. For more information, seeEPAs website.
In Memoriam: A Tribute to Alan J. Magill
Risk of Zika Virus at Your Destination
Zika: A CDC Guide for Travelers infographic
Do not use insect repellents on babies younger than 2 months old.
Zika: Inbound and Outbound Travelers
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
Continuing Education (CE) Credit for Yellow Fever Vaccine Course
