Florida Department of Health Distributes DEET to Hurricane Affected Counties

TALLAHASSEE- As communities throughout Florida begin recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Frances, the Department of Health (DOH) continues  to provide protection residents from dangerous mosquito-borne diseases by  distributing 253,000 cans of DEET to areas impacted by the storms across Florida.

“As we continue clean-up efforts in areas affected by Hurricanes Charley and Frances, we must also be diligent in exercising precautions essential to preventing mosquito-borne disease,” said DOH Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H.  “With many residents laboring outside in damp areas, using safety measures to prevent mosquito-bite infection is critical.”

The DEET will be distributed to the counties impacted by Hurricanes Charley and Frances through the local health departments.  DOH continues to advise the public, particularly those affected by the
storms, to continue to practice mosquito protection, including the “5 D’s” and “1 S” for prevention:

• Dusk and Dawn -- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active, for many species this is during the dusk and dawn hours.
• Dress -- Wear clothing that covers skin.
• DEET -- When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes,
  repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or
  N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are recommended.  Products with concentrations up to 30% DEET are generally recommended for most situations.  (It is not recommended to use DEET on children less than 2 months old. Instead, infants should be kept indoors or mosquito netting used over carriers when outside).  If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing.  Always read the manufacturer's directions carefully before you put on a repellent.
• Drainage -- Check your home to rid it of standing water in which
  mosquitoes can lay their eggs.
• Screens -- Make sure that windows remain closed or are sealed
  completely by screens at night.