Officials urge mosquito protection

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - After a 74-year-old Greenfield man developed a confirmed case of West Nile virus, his family members urged people to protect themselves with DEET.

It’s good advice from a family that’s enduring a tough battle as their grandfather recovers from the mosquito-borne virus.

“We hope that people think before they go outside and think to put that bug spray on,” said the man’s grandson.

Insect repellant with DEET is what experts recommend.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics approved DEET which is one of the more common ones for kids as young as 2 months old,” says Dr Amanda Beach, a pediatrician with St. Vincent Central Carmel.

Dr. Beach says there's an array of products on the market, some with DEET, and others with a chemical called Picardin, which is less potent. There are also sprays that use all natural ingredients.

“It really is kind of just personal preference,” Dr. Beach said. “Some people are more prone to mosquito bites than others and so if you think the DEET works better for you that's one way to safely do it, or you can do the natural as well.”

Dr. Beach says DEET works best. She says products that contain Picardin or the ones that are all natural will have to be applied more often than a product with DEET.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, does recommend DEET, but no higher than 30 percent. Also a light spray should be enough to protect you. However it is not recommended to use any insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months.