[MR] Lyme disease epidemic in Northern Atlantia area

[Kevin and Lora]

As an added note, permethrin can aggravate asthma.  I know that many of 
the warning information labels about permethrin do not contain this 
information clearly stated.

Tegan de Moreton

David Chessler wrote:
> I have experience with permethrin, and it is effective against the tics. I've
> used it in Scout Camp and my daughter has used it in Africa and South
> America.
>
> However, while Permethrin is safe for most mammals, it is NOT safe for cats. I
> don't usually take my cat camping, but YMMV. And, in any event, keep the
> sprayed garments away from the cat. Although once the permethrin has dried on
> the garment and bound to the fibers, casual contract is unlikely to pick up a
> dangerous dose. (When permethrin binds to the fibers it is not removed by soap
> and water, though it is removed by dry cleaning)
>
> The general reputation of DEET is that it is very effective for mosquitoes,
> but less effective for biting flies (like the greenhead fly on the beach, or
> the black fly of northern streams), and for ticks. I noticed that my local
> hardware store carries Permethrin spray in the garden department.
>
> The army manual,
> http://www.afpmb.org/coweb/guidance_targets/ppms/TG36/TG36.htm , is VERY up to
> date and reliable. The army spends a lot of money researching insects and
> insect-borne diseases (entomology dept. at Walter Reed). But, as I said, use
> the spray procedure, which is easier and faster, since you won't be in the
> field for months at a time.
>
> Permethrin is also good for impregnating mosquito nets (bed nets).
>