Mosquito Questions

It has to do with the species of mosquito:
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandso … ove-ankles

CDC article on Vietnamese mosquitoes:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook … ns/vietnam

Going2Cali wrote:

I am from the US. In the US the mosquitoes bite you from head to toe. You must apply mosquito repellant on any skin showing.

I have been living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In Chiang Mai the mosquitoes only bite on the the feet and legs. I don't have to apply repellant to my arms, neck or face.

In Vietnam do the mosquitoes bite the whole body or only the feet and legs? Please advise where I must apply repellant and where I can skip.

I know what kind of repellant to buy in Thailand. What kind is best in Vietnam? Any brands you can recommend?

Thanks!

It depends on where you stay in Vietnam.  I have rarely seen a mosquito in HCMC.  The cleaner the air the more mosquitoes.

At home of my wife's family, west of HCMC, I am bitten a lot by mosquitoes.  On hands, arms, feet and legs.

They are very small inconspicuous mosquitoes.  But they bite like the big ones. 

But I don't use mosquito repellent.

My wife's parents light some mosquito repellent incense sticks for me.

An Aussie woman went to an Elephant sanctuary in nearby Cambodia, got bitten by Mozzies and developed a  type of Malaria that resulted her having fingers and toes amputated. I would spray all over, especially in the rural areas.

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-a … 73780bb315

Going2Cali wrote:

In Chiang Mai the mosquitoes only bite on the the feet and legs. I don't have to apply repellant to my arms, neck or face.

The mosquitoes that bit me in Chiang Mai must have not received the memo that arms, neck, and face are out of bound.  They left bite marks on my forehead, eyelids, cheeks, behind ears, on the underside of upper arms, and forearms. 

They also bit my stomach and derriere. 

Either you're pulling my leg on the intelligence of Chiang Mai mosquitoes or you're mosquito whisperer, because it doesn't matter where they come from, all mosquitoes bite all body parts that they can reach of all the people I know.

I am in D7, and as i am Oneg blood type they love me. i can confirm they bite everywhere!, had bites inside my ears before! i use the normal stuff from the local shop and it works fine, its just that sometimes i forget to put it on...….

I work six months a year in Africa, I've had full Malaria four times, even though I was taking Malarone religiously - must be in my blood, because I am a Mosquito restaurant in Vietnam, where I live in Thailand, never get bit, Vietnam I have to use repellant, and the Mosquito coils as well.........I normally have a fan pointed down at my feet because thats where they like it best.

DEET penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream quickly.
Vitamin B1 has been purported to repel mosquitoes.
There are many natural repellents:
https://www.healthline.com/health/kinds … -repellant
Before I decided to retire in Vietnam I saw an intriguegling article on a new, natural repellent and I am trying to relocate same. It made good sense.

Ciambella wrote:

Going2Cali wrote:

In Chiang Mai the mosquitoes only bite on the the feet and legs. I don't have to apply repellant to my arms, neck or face.

The mosquitoes that bit me in Chiang Mai must have not received the memo that arms, neck, and face are out of bound.  They left bite marks on my forehead, eyelids, cheeks, behind ears, on the underside of upper arms, and forearms. 

They also bit my stomach and derriere. 

Either you're pulling my leg on the intelligence of Chiang Mai mosquitoes or you're mosquito whisperer, because it doesn't matter where they come from, all mosquitoes bite all body parts that they can reach of all the people I know.

Maybe it the areas of Chaing Mai? I stay near Maya Mall and Kard Suen Kaew Mall. I am only bitten on my legs and feet when I wear sandals. No bites on my arms, face, neck or chest.

I am sweet meat to mosquitoes, so I need to avoid them. I only have half of an immune system due to a water-borne viral infection killing off half of my immune system. My doctor said, watch out for other infections? You only have half an immune system to begin with.

Jim-Minh wrote:

It has to do with the species of mosquito:
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandso … ove-ankles

CDC article on Vietnamese mosquitoes:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook … ns/vietnam

Thank you very much for the info. It was informative.

I used to live in India. I think my risks in India were far greater than what I face in Vietnam.

I plan to come back to Danang in Feb and stay for 3 months. Is it really necessary as the CDC suggests to get the Japanese Encephalitis injection?

What are my risks in Danang Feb, March and April?

*** I only have half of an immune system due to a water-borne viral infection killing off half of my immune system. ***

You seem to have a very special condition. I doubt you will find a specialist on this board that can address your problem. I wish you good luck. Review the repellent links I provided.

Jim-Minh wrote:

*** I only have half of an immune system due to a water-borne viral infection killing off half of my immune system. ***

You seem to have a very special condition. I doubt you will find a specialist on this board that can address your problem. I wish you good luck.

You make a good point. I guess I better go consult with an infectious disease specialist to ask about my immune system issues and risk factors. I will go see one when I get back to Chiang Mai. They are the only ones who understand what I am dealing with.

I picked up water-borne viral infection from well water on the family farm in USA.   Spraying the pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, RoundUp, fertilizers and everything else goes through the ground into the aquifer water supply. Melting snow and rain carry the chemicals down into the water supply.

The chemicals change the water and allow viruses to grow. Those viruses are so deadly that they can kill you. One drop of that water is enough to kill a person. If that water enters your body via a cut in the skin, via the eyes, nose, or being swallowed...you are done. It has been devastating for my entire family.

The virus killed off half of my immune system and nearly killed me. No doctor is sure why I am alive other than I am too stubborn to die. ha ha ha I didn't receive the memo that I am "supposed to be dead". My brother thinks I am a vampire and can't be killed because I have outlived over 300 predictions of my imminent death. The virus goes into remission and I recover. It is getting harder and harder as I get older and the virus gets stronger.

Jim-Minh wrote:

CDC article on Vietnamese mosquitoes:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook … ns/vietnam

Japanese encephalitis (JE)?

I went to the FMP six months ago for a health checkup.  They only suggested the vaccination for hepatitis B.  They did not mention Japanese encephalitis (JE).

Update:
I just find that information:
https://www.vaccineimpact.org/diseases/je/

Thanks, Andy. I'll add the JE vaccination to my repertoar.

While it is possible other products repel mosquitoes, the studies of repellents show that DEET is much more effective than anything else. Some products do not get funded for experiments, but I would not use other products as mosquitoes love me, and I acquired dengue fever in Thailand. DEET is not meant to be put on skin any more than necessary, better on socks, cuffs, collars etc with less on skin. You do not want any absorption from skin. It is not meant to kill the diease, but the mosquito who can transmit the disease whether malaria or dengue, which sometimes is more prevalent. There are drug resistant malarias in some places, so you could sometimes end up in ICU. I did not need antimalarials or much repellent in countryside east of Hanoi in September. Malaria is mostly contained, so it does not matter if a mosquito bites you if it has no disease. Central Vietnam is currently most dangerous as a generalization.  Permethrin sprayed on clothes helps, and lasts through several washings.

dlugosz wrote:

While it is possible other products repel mosquitoes, the studies of repellents show that DEET is much more effective than anything else. Some products do not get funded for experiments, but I would not use other products as mosquitoes love me, and I acquired dengue fever in Thailand. DEET is not meant to be put on skin any more than necessary, better on socks, cuffs, collars etc with less on skin. You do not want any absorption from skin. It is not meant to kill the diease, but the mosquito who can transmit the disease whether malaria or dengue, which sometimes is more prevalent. There are drug resistant malarias in some places, so you could sometimes end up in ICU. I did not need antimalarials or much repellent in countryside east of Hanoi in September. Malaria is mostly contained, so it does not matter if a mosquito bites you if it has no disease. Central Vietnam is currently most dangerous as a generalization.  Permethrin sprayed on clothes helps, and lasts through several washings.

Thanks for the helpful tips.

Yes, Dengue Fever is on the rise in Thailand. Malaria is present in Thailand near the border areas. Crossing a border by land can result in malaria when in Thailand.

I sprayed DEET on my socks. The DEET destroyed the elastic in the socks. They are ruined now.

I forgot about permethrin. Thanks for the reminder.

I really like the permethrin option - it is cheap, effective, safe, and has a low hassle factor. Use it on clothing and camping gear - not on skin - it is still effective for up to 5 washings. I don't like DEET.

Wiki:
Permethrin is over 2,250 times more toxic to mosquitos than humans. Put directly on the skin, typically less than 1% of active ingredient is absorbed into the body; DEET can be absorbed at over 20 times that rate. Exposure risk of permethrin-treated clothing to toddlers is 27 times below the EPA's Level of Concern (LOC).

Jim-Minh wrote:

I really like the permethrin option - it is cheap, effective, safe, and has a low hassle factor. Use it on clothing and camping gear - not on skin - it is still effective for up to 5 washings. I don't like DEET.

Wiki:
Permethrin is over 2,250 times more toxic to mosquitos than humans. Put directly on the skin, typically less than 1% of active ingredient is absorbed into the body; DEET can be absorbed at over 20 times that rate. Exposure risk of permethrin-treated clothing to toddlers is 27 times below the EPA's Level of Concern (LOC).

You have been most helpful and a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for your help.

If I spray Permethrin on my skirt and shirt will they still bite my legs and arms? I don't know much about Permethrin. I only know it is applied to clothing. I don't know how it works. Can I replace DEET or is it in addition to DEET?

I am from California and there are no mosquitoes there. I am originally form the area of the US with loads of mosquitoes, but I haven't lived there since I was 12 years old. I am out of practice with how to deal with mosquitoes. In India I didn't even use repellent. I took my anti-malarial tablets and hoped for the best, but malaria wasn't drug resistant then.

Permethrin is a contact insecticide, killing ticks, mosquitoes and many other insects upon physical contact. ... Aerosol spray or dip-coating applications of permethrin can remain effective for up to 6 weeks of exposure to light or oxygen, and through several washings.

You might try Skin So Soft which repels bugs and also comes in formulations with sunscreen protection of SPF30. That's a win, win, win in my book. It repels bugs for up to 8 hours. I've used it on my trips to Vietnam with good results.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/avon-s-sp … -1-1403152

Instead of using mosquito repellent issued by their unit, soldiers and workers at the base are buying Avon body lotion to repel midges on the West Coast. Neil Smith, a Royal Navy spokesman at HMS Clyde, near Helensburgh, said: "It's not official kit but nothing works better and the Marines are buying it themselves because the midges are so bad up there."

(It is available at Amazon)

Jim-Minh wrote:

Permethrin is a contact insecticide, killing ticks, mosquitoes and many other insects upon physical contact. ... Aerosol spray or dip-coating applications of permethrin can remain effective for up to 6 weeks of exposure to light or oxygen, and through several washings.

You might try Skin So Soft which repels bugs and also comes in formulations with sunscreen protection of SPF30. That's a win, win, win in my book. It repels bugs for up to 8 hours. I've used it on my trips to Vietnam with good results.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/avon-s-sp … -1-1403152

Instead of using mosquito repellent issued by their unit, soldiers and workers at the base are buying Avon body lotion to repel midges on the West Coast. Neil Smith, a Royal Navy spokesman at HMS Clyde, near Helensburgh, said: "It's not official kit but nothing works better and the Marines are buying it themselves because the midges are so bad up there."

(It is available at Amazon)

I had heard about the Avon Skin So Soft products, but didn't realize they actually work. I thought it was PR and not true.

Once again, thanks for the info.

Going2Cali - I have no experience with tea tree oil but I have seen reviews that claim it works well. There are several formulas for a repellent cocktail that I've seen on the 'net. I'd like to hear your opinion if you decide to try it. There are several people on this forum  that have mentioned tea tree oil but I don't remember their application.
Tea tree oil will not only repel bugs but will treat he bites that you already have.

I recommend to use Cinnamon oils, I am sure you won't get anymore mosquitoes bites.

Contem talk wrote:

I recommend to use Cinnamon oils, I am sure you won't get anymore mosquitoes bites.

Especially if you get the cinnamon oil on your naughty bits. The mosquitos won't be able to catch you.

Jim-Minh wrote:

Contem talk wrote:

I recommend to use Cinnamon oils, I am sure you won't get anymore mosquitoes bites.

Especially if you get the cinnamon oil on your naughty bits. The mosquitos won't be able to catch you.

You can try it first and let us know how is work for yourself.

Cinnamon oil should be diluted with a carrier oil to 0.5% before being applied to the skin, else it'll burn.  It also shouldn't be used on young children (under 10 years of age).

Tea tree oil can be used for mosquito repellent, but with its antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, it works much better when applied directly to the bites for immediate relief (tea tree oil doesn't need to be diluted).

Jim-Minh wrote:

Going2Cali - I have no experience with tea tree oil but I have seen reviews that claim it works well. There are several formulas for a repellent cocktail that I've seen on the 'net. I'd like to hear your opinion if you decide to try it. There are several people on this forum  that have mentioned tea tree oil but I don't remember their application.
Tea tree oil will not only repel bugs but will treat he bites that you already have.

I use tea tree oil on my bites. It works well. I put it on scrapes, scratches to prevent an infection. People use it on their scalp for all kinds of issues.

I don't know if it works to prevent bites.

Ciambella wrote:

Cinnamon oil should be diluted with a carrier oil to 0.5% before being applied to the skin, else it'll burn.  It also shouldn't be used on young children (under 10 years of age).

Tea tree oil can be used for mosquito repellent, but with its antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, it works much better when applied directly to the bites for immediate relief (tea tree oil doesn't need to be diluted).

How do you measure it to get the proportions right? I wouldn't even know how to properly dilute the cinnamon oil.

I know people who use cinnamon oil inside the home to keep away ants.

Jim-Minh wrote:

Going2Cali - I have no experience with tea tree oil but I have seen reviews that claim it works well. There are several formulas for a repellent cocktail that I've seen on the 'net. I'd like to hear your opinion if you decide to try it. There are several people on this forum  that have mentioned tea tree oil but I don't remember their application.
Tea tree oil will not only repel bugs but will treat he bites that you already have.

I brought to Vietnam a mosquito repellant from Thailand. It is natural. I don't know what is in it because it is written in Thai. There is no DEET in it. The mosquitos in Vietnam went after my feet and ankles.

I started wearing socks and my sneakers to cover up my feet. That has helped.

Basically, the more skin you show the more the mosquitoes feast on you. Wearing a slip on loafer or sneaker to cover up the feet is better than wearing sandals to expose the feet to bites.

I no longer care that my sneakers don't look fashionable with my skirts or dresses. I want to not get mosquito bites. Fashion takes a back seat to preventing bites.

I regret bringing skirts above the knee. The more skin that shows means more bites. It is best to cover up to prevent the bites.

I don't wear shorts outside of the house to prevent bites. It was a waste to pack shorts. I would have been better off bringing pants to cover my skin. Hindsight is 20/20 vision!

I've read many recipes for insect repellents that use tea tree oil. Most repellents start with a 1/4 cup of almond or coconut oil. In every case the amount of tea tree oil used is just a tiny fraction of the total, 2 or 3 drops. Other essential oils include equally small amounts of citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, lemongrass, geranium,  lavender, spearmint, thyme, vanilla, clove, and/or others.

It is obviously not exact or universal. If the Skin So Soft doesn't work well for me I might try formulating my own.

I will say that my wife has found coconut oil to be a great replacement for the very expensive Shiseido cream. She used to buy 1 to 2 ounces for $100 and the coconut oil works just as well.

In answer to how to mix the oils - there are about 300 drops of water in a tablespoon. That will give you a guide on how to accurately determine the concentration. I would warm the oil to reduce the viscosity.

Jim-Minh wrote:

Going2Cali - I have no experience with tea tree oil but I have seen reviews that claim it works well. There are several formulas for a repellent cocktail that I've seen on the 'net. I'd like to hear your opinion if you decide to try it. There are several people on this forum  that have mentioned tea tree oil but I don't remember their application.
Tea tree oil will not only repel bugs but will treat he bites that you already have.

Oh, btw - I applied mosquito repellent and then washed my hands. I washed the repellent off my wrists. The damn mosquitoes went after my wrists! Augh. Wherever you miss a spot they go after it.

I couldn't believe they would get me at the wrist where I washed off the repellent.

The repellent from Thailand is not working in Vietnam. It is different mosquitoes. I just got two bites on the back of my ankle today. I applied the repellent twice and put it on thick.

Jim-Minh wrote:

I've read many recipes for insect repellents that use tea tree oil. Most repellents start with a 1/4 cup of almond or coconut oil. In every case the amount of tea tree oil used is just a tiny fraction of the total, 2 or 3 drops. Other essential oils include equally small amounts of citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, lemongrass, geranium,  lavender, spearmint, thyme, vanilla, clove, and/or others.

It is obviously not exact or universal. If the Skin So Soft doesn't work well for me I might try formulating my own.

I will say that my wife has found coconut oil to be a great replacement for the very expensive Shiseido cream. She used to buy 1 to 2 ounces for $100 and the coconut oil works just as well.

If you will formulate your own you may want to bring the essential oils with you. The ones sold here are diluted down and not as strong as what you get in the West. I bought some essential oils here and found them rather weak.

iHerb won't ship essential oils to you in outside of USA due to they are flammable. You can bring them with you in your carry-on luggage. I brought some essential oils with me. I wrapped them in bubble wrap to protect them.

In India they sell different grades of coconut oil: for the face, for the hair, for the body, for cooking. They "oil their hair" meaning they apply coconut oil to the hair (except the roots and scalp), let it soak in for 30-60 minutes and then shampoo the hair. The oil deep conditions the hair. The oil on the skin keeps it soft and smooth.

Coconut oil has many uses. It is quite wonderful. It is good for after you get a sunburn to heal the skin.

I have thyroid disease, so my skin gets extremely dry. I can use coconut oil to get better relief than from lotion for my excessively dry skin.

The properties of coconut oil make it great for the face.

We have had great luck with the 1st press extra virgin coconut oil for skin and hair. It works wonders. It makes Nga's hair look and feel like that of a teenager.

Here are 14 formulas for mosquito repellent:

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/hom … epellents/

Jim-Minh wrote:

We have had great luck with the 1st press extra virgin coconut oil for skin and hair. It works wonders. It makes Nga's hair look and feel like that of a teenager.

Here are 14 formulas for mosquito repellent:

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/hom … epellents/

What the different scents do is change your scent to try and throw off the mosquito. They can smell us through the different scents.

Mosquitoes find us due to our breathe. They look for our carbon dioxide.

They look for our body heat. Once they get close to us they smell us. They even smell the blood vessels they need to strike to get the blood they need.

I noticed I didn't get as many bites when I changed my scent internally. I made my "chill out tea" and that seemed to change my natural scent. I got less bites.

Chill out tea:
1 bag of peppermint tea
1 bag of chamomile tea
4-5 drops of an essential oil - relaxation blend or sleep blend

I worked up to 4-5 drops. I started at 2-3 drops

Optional: Tulsi Sleepy Time Tea

I drank 2 cups a day. I didn't get any many bites. Maybe try adding essential oils to your tea cup and see if changing your scent doesn't work?

I didn't bring my essential oils with me from Thailand since I am currently on a visa run. I left them back in Chiang Mai.

I don't have any hard proof that this works, but I did notice less bites once I used the herbal teas and essential oils. I also don't eat much meat. I eat meat once a week.

In USA if you eat bananas and peanut butter you attract more bites. There are certain diets that attract more bites. I don't know what diet items attract more bites in SE Asia. I have only heard about what attracts more bites in USA.

Jim-Minh wrote:

We have had great luck with the 1st press extra virgin coconut oil for skin and hair. It works wonders. It makes Nga's hair look and feel like that of a teenager.

Here are 14 formulas for mosquito repellent:

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/hom … epellents/

Aw, damn it! A mosquito bit me right through my skirt today! It got me on my thigh. They can bite through the fabric and get you.

I shower at the end of the day to wash off the repellent before I go to sleep. I don't want to sleep with it on my skin.

Going2Cali wrote:

Maybe try adding essential oils to your tea cup and see if changing your scent doesn't work?

Be VERY, VERY careful when ingesting EOs.  In spite of many Johnny-Come-Lately websites and blogs (even the MLM companies such as dōTERRAs and Young Living) telling you it's OK to add EOs to your drink, it's definitely NOT.  As EOs are highly concentrated and extremely potent, they could do more harm than good when being ingested.  When in doubt, check with your MDs.

Unless the oil is labeled as "food grade" (much weaker than aromatherapy oil), WITH clearly printed FDA required Nutrition Facts or Supplement Facts AND appropriate serving information, I would not let it touch my tongue.

I've been using EOs daily for about 35 years for everything (hair, face, body, illnesses, etc. -- even brought 60 different kinds of EOs in checked luggage when we moved here, as I don't consciously put chemicals on my body) and not once that I felt the need to ingest a drop of EO.

Ciambella is correct about ingesting EOs, especially tea tree oil. It is known to be toxic.

If you wish to alter your blood chemistry to repel mosquitos, Vitamin B-1 has been used as a repellent for many years:

To benefit from thiamine's mosquito repelling action, higher doses must be consumed to ensure that there will be excessive amounts to eliminate through the skin. It is recommended to take Vitamin B1 at a dosage of 50 to 100 mg per day.

(Start the B-1 regimine two weeks before expecting exposure to mosquitos. Take two to three 30 to 50 mG tablets per day, morning, noon, and evening)

Okay. Thanks for the advice about not taking essential oils in my tea. I had read it was okay and I guess not. Thanks for letting me know.

SOFFELL mosquito repellant packets, you can buy them in any mom and pop store, I carry them to Africa with me and they work on the biting bugs there as well...........

FYI  permetherin is used for your clothing, and mosquito nets  -  it is a very strong poison to be putting on your bare skin...........no matter what the dillution, I wouldn't use it on my skin............I spray it around the the grass as well..........we have not many probs with mosquitos and I live in the Mekong Delta.

Jim-Minh wrote:

DEET penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream quickly.

That doesn't sound like a good thing.

Going2Cali wrote:

I plan to come back to Danang in Feb and stay for 3 months. Is it really necessary as the CDC suggests to get the Japanese Encephalitis injection?

What are my risks in Danang Feb, March and April?

Let's do the math.

According to
https://www.vietnammedicalpractice.com/ … litis.html

There were 325 cases of encephalitis in Vietnam in 2017
Japanese encephalitis was responsibile for 15%, or 49 cases of encephalitis.
Nationwide that is 49 cases per 95,000,000 people
12% of cases were in central Vietnam
49 * .12 = 6 cases in central Vietnam
So the risk is 6 in 95,000,000

However, a 3 month visit would cut your risk of exposure to one quarter of a year
That quarter, Feb, March, April, is the dry season, so less mosquitos
Central Da Nang is not a rural area, so less mosquitos
As a tourist, even in rural areas, you wouldn't be living as close to the earth as locals (aircon
hotel room vs living and working in open air) so less mosquitos

Still nervous? This scary headline yells 'Rare doesn't mean Never'.
https://www.travelvax.com.au/latest-new … are-doesn-

There were 62 reported travel-related (meaning tourist) JE cases in 40 years.
The math:
Statistically only 1.5 tourists per year contracted japanese encephalitis.
Last year there were 10 million tourists to Vietnam, 35 million to Thailand, etc.

Editorial:
There are a whole lot of far worse things to fear with a frequency greater than 1/100,000,000. Save your money.