Dear Editor: With the arrival of spring, and as summer approaches, the staff of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) reminds everyone about insect bite prevention. The risk of contracting Lyme disease from the bit of an infected deer tick and West Nile Virus from an infected mosquito can be decreased with the use of appropriate clothing and insect repellants. Individuals who may be entering tick infested areas, or areas where mosquitoes are present, should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Pants should be tucked into socks or boot tops to help keep insects from reaching the skin. Exposure to mosquitoes can be decreased by limiting outdoor activities at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening when mosquitoes are most active. Eliminate standing water that collects in birdbaths, buckets and containers, tires, unused pools and roof gutters. Apply 10 to 35 percent DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) containing insect repellent to clothes and exposed skin when taking part in outdoor activities. DEET is available in many formulations including lotions, solutions, creams, gels, sprays and towelettes. DEET has also been added to some sun screens. According to Bruce Ruck, Pharm.D., “Application of DEET should be used according to the specific directions of the product used. Some products can be applied to the skin, while others are intended for application to clothing, sleeping bags, tents, etc. Spraying DEET on clothes is suggested because mosquitoes may bite through clothes.” Insect repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth. Insect repellents should not be sprayed on the face. They may be sprayed on to hands and then rubbed onto the face. Insect repellants are not suggested for very young children (3 years old) and application to broken skin or wounds should be avoided. If you need further information, the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System is available 24 hours a day to assist you. Help is just a phone call away! 1-800-POISON-1 (1-800-764-7661). NJ Poison Information and Education System