Find the best tips about how to protect yourself from mosquito bites in Peru:
- Use insect repellent
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents that have one of the active ingredients listed below. EPA-registered insect repellents are safe and effective, even for pregnant and lactating women.
DEET
Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside of the US)
IR3535
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
2-undecanol
Find the right insect repellent for you with the help of EPA’s search tool.
Tips For Avoid Mosquito Bite
- Always use insect repellants
- Reapply insect repellent
- Do not apply repellents to the skin under clothing.
- If you also use sunscreen, apply the sunscreen first and then the insect repellent.
Tips for Babies and Children
- Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
- Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
- When using insect repellent on children:
- Always follow the instructions when applying insect repellent to children.
- Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years of age.
- Do not apply insect repellent to children’s hands, eyes, or cut or irritated skin.
- Adults: To apply insect repellent to children’s faces, put the repellent on their hands first.
- Adult puts insect repellent on a girl’s face.
- Protect your baby or child
- Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
- Cover the crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
- Treat clothing and equipment with permethrin.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Treat items like boots, pants, socks, and tents with permethrin* or purchase premethrin-treated clothing and gear.
- Permethrin-treated clothing will protect you even after multiple washes. See the product information to see how long the protection will last.
- If you are doing the treatment yourself, follow the instructions on the product.
- Do not apply permethrin products directly to the skin.
- Use screen mesh on windows and doors.
- Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home
- Use window and door screens. Repair holes in screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
- Use air conditioning if one is available.
- Sleep under a screen if rooms do not have air conditioning or screens on windows and doors, or if you sleep outside.
- Once a week, empty, scrub, turn over, cover, or throw away anything that collects water such as tires, buckets, flower pots, toys, swimming pools, birdbaths, pot dishes, and trash containers. Check inside and outside your home. Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water.
Protect Against Mosquito Bites When You Travel
- Travelers should be prepared to prevent mosquito bites because mosquitoes spread viruses and parasites that are not common or present in the continental United States.
- Remember to pack the following items
- An EPA registered insect repellent.
- Long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Mosquitoes can bite through light clothing.
- Clothing and articles (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) treated with 0.5% permethrin. You can treat the articles or buy them already treated.
- Mosquito net if you will be sleeping outdoors or if there are no rooms with screens on the windows and doors.
- Avoid mosquitoes in your hotel or accommodation
- Choose a hotel or accommodation with air conditioning or screens on the doors and windows.
- Sleep under a mosquito net if you sleep outdoors or if the room is not well protected bythe leggings
- Mosquito net in his packaging.
- Sleep under a mosquito net
- Sleep under a mosquito net if you sleep outdoors or if the room does not have screens on the doors and windows. Mosquitoes can live indoors and bite day and night.
- Before traveling abroad, purchase a mosquito net online or at a local outdoor supply store.
- Choose a mosquito net that is: compact, white, rectangular, long enough that the edges can be folded under the mattress, and has 156 holes per square inch.
- Permethrin-treated nets provide more protection than treated ones.
- Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes and other insects.
- To determine if you can wash the treated net, follow the instructions on the label.
- Mosquito net placed over a bed.
- How to use mosquito nets correctly
- You can hang mosquito nets over the bed or crib to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Adults and children should sleep under a mosquito net if air-conditioned rooms or window and door screens are not available.
When using a mosquito net:
- Adjust the mesh under the mattress to prevent mosquitoes from passing through.
- Adjust the netting over the crib and under the mattress or choose a mosquito net long enough to reach the floor.
- Leave the net tight to avoid the risk of suffocation in small children. Check label instructions for additional information.
- Hook or tie the sides of the net to other objects if they hang down toward the baby’s sleeping area.Check that there are no holes or tears in the mesh, so there is no space for mosquitoes to pass through.
- Do not hang the net near candles, cigarettes, or campfires as it may catch fire.
- Do not sleep directly against the mosquito net, as mosquitoes can bite through the small holes in the mesh.