An Innovation in Mosquito-borne Disease Protection

Past experience has shown that there is a great need to protect the individual combat soldier from vector-borne diseases. Because of the unique problems encountered in combat, personal protection of the individual has proven to be the most practical means of reducing vectored diseases. Many different chemical repellents and barrier devices have been used, but all of them have failed to provide the necessary level of protection. Wide mesh netting treated with a 'space repellent' such as diethyl toluamide was found to provide excellent protection from biting insects. The netting excluded insects, but allowed air to move in sufficient amounts for good ventilation. Both hearing and sight were improved over old style netting. Specific tests on bed nets revealed that both 100 percent cotton and 50 percent cotton/50 percent polyester fabrics withstood three to five years in storage with little loss in tensile strength. Exposure to the environment for up to six weeks did not visibly increase deterioration time. Both types of fabric appeared acceptable with respect to life expectancy in storage and field use. Pub. in Military Medicine, v137 n5 May 1972.