US study shows insect repellent apparel works
A pilot study carried out in the US has shown that clothes treated with long-lasting insect repellent appear to offer wearers significant protection against tick bites.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, found 93% fewer tick attachments among a group of state water quality employees who wore Insect Shield Repellent Apparel, compared to workers in similar environments who used spray repellents or other tick bite prevention methods.
The findings were published in the March 2011 issue of the medical journal Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.
Tick-borne diseases are a concern for millions of people who live and work in tick-infested habitats. If not treated early, these diseases can lead to severe illness or even death, according to Steve Meshnick, M.D., Ph.D., UNC epidemiology professor and lead author of the study. Over the past two decades, the rate of diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever has increased, Mr Meshnick claims.
“The technology holds the promise of a safe, simple and effective way to protect people from ticks and other insects,” Mr Meshnick said. “If further studies show similar results, the apparel could be used by people who are often outdoors for work or recreation or both. I can envision many uses around the world, including in developing countries to prevent malaria spread by mosquitoes.”
Apparel treated with permethrin, a synthetic chemical used as a contact repellent and insecticide, has been shown to repel mosquitoes, ants, flies, chiggers and midges for up to 70 washes.
Epidemiology graduate and study co-author Meagan Vaughn conducted the pilot study from March to September 2009 in outdoor workers from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Sixteen employees from the wetlands unit were selected because of the high number of work-related tick bites they reported in previous years. Nine employees wore Insect Shield treated clothing, while seven were in a control group who wore untreated clothing and continued their usual efforts to repel ticks, including use of spray repellents.
Results showed that for every 100 hours spent outdoors, the group wearing treated clothing had 99% fewer tick attachments during work hours and 93% fewer tick attachments overall than the control group.
Based on the pilot study results, researchers from UNC and NC State University were awarded a $1.2 million, four-year grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, part of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers have enrolled more than 120 outdoor workers in North Carolina’s Divisions of Forestry, Parks and Recreation, and Wildlife Resources. For the study, workers are randomly assigned to wear treated or untreated uniforms for two tick seasons. Neither participants nor investigators will know who is wearing which type of uniform. All participants will be monitored carefully for tick bites and tick-borne illnesses.
“Insect Shield is proud to partner with the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health on these important research projects,” said Richard Lane, Insect Shield president. “We expect that the large study will corroborate the pilot study and further confirm that these treatments can prevent serious tick-borne diseases.”
