Why does Centers for Disease Control recommend using DEET?
A. DEET is the most effective and best-studied insect repellent available. Studies using humans and mosquitoes report that only products containing DEET offer long-lasting protection after a single application. Q. Are non-DEET repellents effective (e.g. Skin-So-Soft, plant-based repellents)? A. Some non-DEET repellent products, which are intended to be applied directly to skin, also provide some protection from mosquito bites. However, studies have suggested that other products do not offer the same level of protection, or that protection does not last as long as products containing DEET. A soybean-oil-based product has been shown to provide protection for a period of time similar to a product with a low concentration of DEET (4.75%) People should choose a repellent that they will be likely to use consistently and that will provide sufficient protection for the amount of time that they will be spending outdoors. Product labels often indicate the length of time that protection that can
