When You Head Out This Weekend Remember to Protect Yourself, West Nile Virus is at its Peak
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
BEDFORD, Mass. (September 25, 2015) — No one really wants to douse themselves in DEET to enjoy the outdoors, but even as summer winds down, the fear of insect-borne illnesses is real. West Nile Virus, the virus most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, has been documented in 46 states this year, with highest concentrations in Texas and California. With one in five individuals who contract the virus suffering from fever, vomiting and body pains, it’s best to play it safe, and here’s where Thermacell Repellents Backyard Torches, Repellents and Lanterns can help.
Thermacell products use a repellent that is a copy of the natural insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers to keep bugs and insects away. All of Thermacell’s repellent products are virtually odorless, silent and portable.
“In September and October, when the weather is beautiful, we want to spend time outdoors, and it’s easy to forget that mosquitoes are still biting. However, West Nile Virus is prevalent in a number of states, so it’s important to protect yourself with an effective mosquito repellent, especially at dawn and dusk,” says Allegra Lowitt, marketing director for Thermacell Repellents. “Using a Thermacell lantern or repellent is an easy way to keep yourself and your family protected from annoying mosquitoes and harmful diseases.”
West Nile Virus was first detected in North America in 1999 and has spread across the country since the first documented case. As of September 15, there have been 708 documented human cases and 29 deaths in 2015. Of the 708 cases, 422 (60 percent) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 286 (40 percent) were classified as non-neuroinvasive diseases. These year-to-date numbers are comparable to 2013 and 2014, when human deaths totaled 97 and 119, respectively, by the end of the year. Texas and California have the highest concentration of human cases in the United States for 2015. For more information, please visit: http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/mapviewer/.
There are currently no medications or vaccines to prevent the contraction of West Nile Virus. To learn more about West Nile Virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html
Using a Thermacell lantern or repellant is an easy way to protect yourself and your family. For product information, please visit: http://www.thermacell.com/.
About Thermacell Repellents, Inc.
Thermacell Repellents, Inc., headquartered in Bedford, MA, designs, manufactures and markets area mosquito repellent solutions that create a 15 ft. x 15 ft. zone of protection in minutes from mosquitoes, black flies and other flying insects. Thermacell products can be found at most outdoor, sporting goods, home improvement and mass merchant retailers. Thermacell is also available internationally in more than 20 countries. For more information on Thermacell and its complete line of repellent products, consumer reviews, or store locations, visit www.Thermacell.com or call 1-866-753-3837.
