Once upon a time, not so long ago really, those of us who live in North America were able to think of mosquito bites as minor irritations. Only if we lived near a swamp, did we worry about Yellow Fever and outbreaks of Elephantitis were rare. Only people who lived in Africa, Asia and the tropics, thought of mosquito bites as possible omens of deadly diseases like Malaria and Dengue Fever. Since 1997, the temperate world has faced in own mosquito borne nemesis, West Nile Virus, (WNV). Fortunately, in most cases the victims of WNV have few if any symptoms, many times the infection is misdiagnosed as flu, but every summer, there are dozens of cases of neurological disease and death per state. As global warming advances, even Alaska is no longer immune.
There is good news. We have the power to elude that ravenous predator, the female mosquito. She only wants our blood and that of birds and horses to provide protein for her eggs. She tracks us down because we breathe; mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and perspiration, but if we smell bad to her she will move on. We can make our own personal scent odious to mosquitoes and pleasant to ourselves by using time tested and in one instance, EPA approved essential oils as mosquito repellents. Sister Sheba’s Dragonfly Mosquito Repellents, smell great to us humans, but reek as far as mosquitoes are concerned. Made from all natural ingredients they do not harm the environment, cause cancer or possible nerve damage (as is alleged for high concentrations of DEET), and have the benefits of aromatherapy as well! Moderately priced and soon available as moist towelettes!
