Is vinegar an effective alternative to Mosquito-repellents containing DEET?

Hi guys! Here's the situation:

I work in a mountain resort. Recently, dengue fever has become a rather serious issue in the village where we're located (and where we get about 90% of our employees). About thirty residents have already been infected and two have died - one a pregnant woman, and another was one of our housekeepers who got dengue and then contracted pneumonia during her stay at the hospital.

We're doing what we can working with the local health authorities to educate the residents on the importance of proper sanitation, proper storage of water, etc. The thing is most of these people CANNOT afford to get sick - not even for a day - so prevention is the best option for them. Many of us have taken to using mosquito-repellent lotions not just on ourselves but also our children; but apart from the prohibitive cost (just imagine sharing a single bottle of OFF with the whole family every single day), there's also the concern that the DEET in the lotion may have an adverse effect especially on the kids.

My colleagues showed me e-mails saying that vinegar can be applied as a mosquito repellant. I did some online searches and found some articles saying that vinegar (or garlic, or citronella, etc.) can indeed be an alternative to DEET-containing mosquito repellents. I want to be thorough though. I want to be sure that this actually works, which is why I'm posting this in the Camping/Outdoor forum.

So what I want to ask is: What works in your experience? Is vinegar a safe and effective alternative to DEET repellents? Any other alternatives besides wrapping ourselves in plastic (not an option in our tropical climate)? Garlic? Citronella?

Your answers would be deeply appreciated.

Daghang Salamat,

Musikero

 

I know that in North America, wild onions have been used as bug repellent. When crushed and applied to the skin, but this tends to repel other humans too.

 

Yeah, not very practical if you're working in a resort. Unless you work in the kitchen, I guess. Thanks anyway, though.

 

Try some vanilla extract, at least it works on Oklahoma mosquitoes.

 

If people's lives are at stake, I'd stick with the DEET. Better living through chemistry, and all that.

 

eucalyptus-based repellents which contain Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus to be a highly effective and nontoxic alternative to DEET...

 

Citronella, and in this country it's recommended to use lavender oil for young children because it's not so strong. Doesn't work for me. I've tried everything because I've been in African countries that have malaria carrying mozzies and I always end up using a proper anti-mozzie preparation.

 

Thanks for all your help.