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Labos: The mosquitoes are coming. Here’s how to bite back

35 0
01.07.2026

The mosquitoes are coming. The bloodthirsty insects will descend upon us and harass anyone trying to enjoy a barbecue or a picnic outdoors. They are the world’s deadliest animal spreading disease like malaria, West Nile and dengue fever that kill 725,000 people per year. For reference, we humans kill about 475,000 of each other every year, and wolves manage to pick off only 10 of us per annum.

Mosquitoes are a serious public health hazard. Here is how to stay safe.

When you buy an insect repellent make sure it has DEET in it. DEET has a bad reputation online, and multiple products offer up a DEET-free option to repel insects. You should generally ignore them.

DEET is considered the gold standard in bug sprays offering protections against mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, fleas and numerous other undesirable biting creatures. Its bad press comes from its side-effects. DEET leaves an oily sticky residue on the skin that many people find unpleasant. Some people can have an allergic reaction to the product and develop dermatitis, although this........

© Montreal Gazette