CDC Approves Use Of Alternative Mosquito Repellants

Undated — The federal government has endorsed the use of two alternative mosquito repellants as the threat of a West Nile Virus outbreak continues to worry health officials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently gave its approval to the use of picaridin, which is used in Europe and Latin America, and oil of lemon eucalyptus, an organic compound.

State officials say Northern California may be especially vulnerable to West Nile virus this year. The infection affected more than 900 Americans last year and killed 88. Most of those cases were in the southern part of the state where 28 died of West Nile infection.

Officials say the long wet California winter has created favorable breeding conditions for mosquitoes , which transmit the disease to birds which then pass it to humans.