Travel in the Time of Zika: How to Avoid Mosquitos on the Road
I grew up on a Christmas tree farm in rural northeast Ohio. The type of environment where summertime brings humid weather, bullfrog song, fields of fireflies – and tons of mosquitos.
But when I was younger, nobody was afraid of a mosquito bite. We used bug spray occasionally and might set up a citronella candle or two if we were going to be sitting out late in the yard. But nobody was truly *afraid* of mosquitos.
As I've gotten older, though, mosquitos have gotten a lot scarier. And, as a frequent traveler, I've never been more aware of all the mosquito-borne diseases that I could be catching than I am right now.
There are the ones you can get vaccinated against (like Yellow Fever), and the ones you can prevent with medication (like malaria). But there are plenty that you can't really prevent with drugs – like dengue fever, West Nile virus, Chikungunya, and now Zika virus.
Earlier this year, the CDC concluded that Zika can not only lead to cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, but also can cause microcephaly in babies whose pregnant mothers contract the disease. (Oh, and it can also be sexually-transmitted.) Other mosquito-borne diseases are nasty, but this one can affect someone other than just the person who contracts the virus – which makes it that much scarier.
How to avoid Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases
The Zika virus originated in Africa, but is now endemic in Central and South America. There, cases have risen exponentially in the last two years, and experts expect the disease to spread into North America and possibly even Asia before long.
So how do you avoid something that is found in so many parts of the world?
Well, if you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant, you may want to avoid traveling to places where Zika virus is known to be found (for Americans, check out the CDC site). Consider traveling to Europe, or perhaps Australia/New Zealand, where you don't really have to worry about any mosquito-borne illnesses.
But what about the rest of us? Avoiding entire continents just because of mosquitos definitely limits travel options.
I'm not a doctor, but I HAVE traveled a lot – including to places where there are a lot of mosquitos. And there is only one surefire way to avoid any mosquito-borne diseases: do not get bitten by mosquitos.
This, of course, is much easier said than done. And if you visit a doctor who gives you this advice, you're likely to laugh in his/her face. Mosquito bites are going to happen, especially if you visit balmy areas near water.
So the next-best advice is two-fold:
- Get the vaccinations you can (i.e. Yellow Fever), and take anti-malarials if you're traveling to a part of the world with malaria risk.
- Invest in products that will make it as difficult as possible for mosquitos to get to you.
Must-have items to prevent mosquito bites
Going to go somewhere with disease-carrying mosquitos? Chances are you are, since these buggers are virtually everywhere. Here are some things you might want to consider buying for your next trip:
Bug spray
Mosquito repellent is probably the easiest thing to purchase to ward off bites, and it's generally pretty effective. Some options to consider include:
DEET-based repellent – DEET is arguably the most effective in repelling mosquitos, but be aware that some won't be deterred by the low-percentage DEET sprays that you can find in the States. For my trips to the Amazon and Africa, I ended up buying a roll-on DEET stick and a 98% DEET spray. The downside is that DEET eats through plastic, nail polish, and a lot of other things, so you don't want to get it on your clothes or gear. (It also worries me – what is it doing to your skin if it can eat through plastic??) My pick: Sawyer Products Premium Maxi-DEET Insect Repellent
Picaridin repellent – While not as strong as DEET, Picaridin is still very effective against all sorts of biting bugs. It also doesn't stink like DEET, and is safe to spray on your clothing/gear, making this my top pick for bug repellent. My pick: Sawyer Premium Picaridin Repellent
Natural insect repellent – Repel makes a natural insect repellent that uses lemon and eucalyptus. I'm not sure how effective this would be against voracious tropical mosquitos, but it sure smells nice! AND it doesn't contain any nasty chemicals. My pick: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Natural Insect Repellent
Non-spray bug repellent – Don't like messy sprays to ward off bugs? There are some non-spray options, too, including mosquito-repellent lotion, wearable wrist bands, and repellent wipes. My pick: Repel Sportsmen 30-Percent Deet Mosquito Repellent Wipes
Bug-repellent jacket
Even though I travel with bug spray, I don't like to rely on it entirely – because it's never 100% effective, especially if you forget to re-apply it. So in addition, it's always a good idea to cover up as much as possible in buggy destinations. This can be difficult, though, especially when you're in really warm climates.
I discovered the ExOfficio Bugsaway jacket earlier this year before a trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon and immediately ordered it. Not only is the jacket treated with a mosquito repellent, but it's also made mostly of lightweight mesh, meaning I wasn't sweating like crazy while wearing it in a humid climate. I took it with me to Southern Africa this year, too, and I'm happy to report that I did not get one single mosquito bite while wearing it. In Ecuador, I wore it in conjunction with bug spray, but in Africa I often would throw it on at night without any bug spray on my arms underneath- and still no bites! It also kept away pesky sandflies. My pick: ExOfficio Bugsaway Damselfly Jacket (they also make a men's version here)
Bug-repellent pants
ExOfficio also makes mosquito-repellent pants as part of their Bugsaway line (other outdoor brands also make them). The fabric is treated with repellent and is usually good for up to 50+ washes, and will give you that extra piece of mind when outside around bugs.
Alternatively, you could buy your own Permethrin spray and treat your clothing yourself. Permethrin is said to be just as effective as DEET, but is made specifically for clothing. It won't damage fabric or leave stains, and one good spray should last up to 6 washes. My pick: Sawyer Products Premium Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent Spray
Mosquito head net
Want to be protected EVEN MORE? You could also invest in one of those uber-attractive mosquito head nets that fit over a hat. I've never used one myself, but my dad frequently does when he's out fishing. If you're really concerned about mosquitos, I suppose every attempt to avoid them is worth trying!
Mosquito net
When traveling in mosquito-filled places, it's always smart to sleep with protection, too. If you stay in a hotel in this type of area, chances are your bed will already come equipped with a mosquito net. But if you stay in a cheap hostel or are camping, one may not be provided. In this case, it's never a bad idea to buy your own mosquito net. They are lightweight and shouldn't take up too much room in your bag, so why not be protected? There's even a cool pop-up version you could check out. Tip: Whether you are using a hotel mosquito net or your own, you should travel with a little bit of duct tape to repair any holes. (Plus, duct tape is just good to have in general!)
READ MORE: Zika outbreak: What you need to know
Buy some of the things featured in this post:
Do you have any more go-tos for avoiding mosquito bites on the road?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Didn’t really know what I was expecting to find 😀 , really though there would be a magic bullet ! Vaccinations, check! Mosquito net, check! Now …. Bug-repellent pants and jacket … didn’t know about that !!! I’ll check it out, thanks so much
I certainly wish there was a magic formula that would help with those pesky bugs!
My family and I travel to Puerto Rico every year. Everyone was so worried about Zika when we went (and they should be!) that I believe we bought every type of repellant or band PR sells. Still, we got bit, and everyone was all nervous. I must admit that I did not really understand the gravity of the virus until after we returned.
I live in South Carolina and mosquitos are terrible here – lots of humidity, water, etc. A lot of the people around here make their own spray that is made with vinegar and a few other ingredients. It REALLY works. I got a few jars from my neighbor and spread that stuff over the yard like he said and I’ve not gotten bit or seen a single one in my yard for MONTHS. I asked him if you could put it on your skin and he said YES! The knowledge of how to make this spray is passed down from generation to generation, person to person.
I’ve got to get that recipe and make the repellant so that when next year rolls through I have it again. I’m not sure this could be taken out of the country in a carry on (due to the 3 ounces rule) and I’d hate for this to break in luggage, etc… but it can be placed into a spray bottle.
If I get this recipe, I’ll send it to you via email. You may want to see if it works for you.
Ah, homemade mosquito repellant – not a bad idea, especially if it works!
These are AWESOME tips! I actually hadn’t heard of a lot of these things before. I absolutely hate bug spray, especially the really sticky, oily (but super effective) kind. So, I’ve always been really hesitant to put it on, even when the mosquitoes are bugging me a lot. Well, that stopped working out for me when I went to Honduras and got dengue fever! HORRIBLE body aches, fever, chills, stomach cramps, all of which I had to recover from in a Honduran clinic without A/C…definitely changed my opinion about protection from mosquitoes!
Oh gosh. I know a few people who have contracted dengue, and it sounds so AWFUL! I really hate those sticky, smelly bug sprays, too, so it’s good to know there are some alternatives out there!
Good info! It’s such a double-edged sword – risk the possibility of a bite/infection or slather yourself in poison?! I especially hate putting stuff on my skin when I’m on a multi-day backcountry trip where I’m not showering every day. Yuck! I prefer the Permethrin route, although that’s deadly to pets so you have to be careful when/where you apply to your clothes!
Yeah, either way there’s some sort of risk. But I suppose I’d rather use the chemicals sparingly and hopefully avoid catching something that could have long-term bad effect (or, you know, kill me).
We’ve changed vacation plans since I’m actively trying to get pregnant. This year instead of Mexico, we are doing Canada instead!
A perfectly good substitution! Canada is lovely.
I had NO idea they made repellent jackets and pants, I will definitely have to take a look at those! I literally get eaten alive by mosquitos and have a horrible reaction to them (i.e., my bites swell to the size of baseballs), even when everyone else in my group get no bites when we’ve been in the same area. I STILL get bitten even when i put on layers of deet AND a natural repellent.. haha… so I’ll def look into the clothes. Thanks!
Ack, that sounds awful! When you’re that allergic, I suppose trying anything and everything is probably worth it!
I hate those pesky little things! My poor son seems to get bit everywhere he goes. That jacket is pretty awesome. I’ll have to look into one some more.
Aww poor thing! Bug bites are never fun, but they’re especially not fun when they come with the risk of disease!
Please note that Australia does unfortunately have dengue fever mosquitoes in the north of the the continent (north Queensland, Northern Territory and northern Western Australia). The south though, where most people are (New South Wales and Victoria), is fine – please feel free to visit!
Sneaky northern Australia! I didn’t know that – so thanks for the info!
Yes, when travelling, we have to protect ourselves from sicknesses too. Though Zika is scary but we can afford to avoid it.
I’m not the best at getting vaccinations for things that I’m not likely to contract, but I’m definitely more aware of mosquitos these days!
I must admit that the Zika virus has made me hesitate this summer. I had planned to take my teenaged daughter to South America, but so many people discouraged me that I decided to wait. I don’t feel that nervous about it, but it almost seemed like this just isn’t the right time. I never like giving in to fear. 🙁
I hear you! I haven’t let it dictate any of my travel plans yet, but it’s mostly because I have no plans to become pregnant anytime soon. Now if that wasn’t the case? I would perhaps be choosing my destinations more carefully.
Thank you so much for this post, I’m going to try those bracelets along with spray and lotion for my costa rica trip in a few weeks.
Hopefully they help! I haven’t tried the bracelets myself, but I suppose anything is worth trying once! (And I like that those don’t have any nasty chemicals in them.)
This post definitely made me think. I didn’t know that Zika virus could also be sexually transmitted.
What a scary disease!
I know, right?? Scary indeed. Hopefully they’ll be able to come up with a vaccine for it soon.
I get stung a lot… And I get super itchy bumps which get infected since I can’t stop scratching. I’ve tried most of the mosquito repellents on the market, because almost all items don’t work. The ones I buy abroad work best (some contain way more than the allowed amount of DEET). I’m seriously considering the jacket and the trousers as a next step! Bugsaway, here I come 🙂
Eek, no fun! I know some people who are highly allergic to mosquito bites and it doesn’t look pleasant! I get bitten, but never feasted upon. At this point, it sounds like just about anything is worth trying for you!
Great post! Mosquitos gross me out. I’m a hypochondriac so all their yucky diseases make me even more paranoid. I’m definitely bookmarking this post for the future (I’m considering Costa Rica for next year’s spring break)! I love the bugsaway jacket! It looks comfy!
You’ll definitely want to gear up on repellent for Costa Rica! And yes, the Bugsaway jacket is pretty comfy, and I always get compliments on it! (And then people threaten to steal it once they find out that it is also repels bugs.)
When I was in Africa I had this deet insect repellent that was a gel/liquid. Hence after my shower every morning I put it on like I would moisturiser. So gross but so effective! You can also get special stuff to treat your clothes in. You mix it with water and immerse your clothes in it and it makes them insect repellent. It’s a nice alternative to buying the specific clothes!
Yeah the Premetherin spray is kinda like the stuff you can soak your clothes in (in fact, it may be a version of the same stuff). The gel DEET is intriguing, but yes… sound gross! Haha. Oh the thing we do to avoid bugs…