Buzz Off!

Special Report: Buzz Off!

The biggest threat could be EEE, so it's important to protect yourself from the pests.

David Spurr said "Mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, deer flies, everything"…are the threat.

Bugs are a big part of David Spurr's job.

As a surveyor he goes deep in the Vermont woods -- prime biting areas.

That's why David is putting on bug spray, not from a can, but hidden inside his vest, hat and pants.

It's called Buzz Off -- clothes specially treated with an insecticide called Permethrin.

While his unprotected co-worker Jared is covered in bites, David is not.

"The bugs don't bother me at all and i watch him flap like a bumble bee trying to keep all the bugs off," said Spurr.

Meanwhile, Jared said, "I got bit at least 6-8 times probably more."

The EPA has deemed the buzz off clothes safe and effective for fighting off pests like mosquitoes, ticks, ants and flies.

And although treated...the clothes can be found in many sporting good stores and don't smell like bug spray.

Richard Lane is the President of the clothing company, "Buzz Off has been an evolution of a 10 year research project. Initially, the department of defense came to me looking for a solution for attaching insect repellant to apparel in a permanent manner"

Now, several soldiers wear bug battling uniforms in war zones like Iraq.

Here at home, we're expected to have a war of our own with mosquitoes. After a very wet and long winter, Triple E could be a big threat this summer. While the buzz off clothes may be a weapon in that war, many experts think you may need more than that.

Dr. Andrew Spielman of Harvard School of Public Health is a bit skeptical, "Is it a panacea? Will it solve the problem? I don't think so. You've got to worry about exposed parts of your skin and for that you need other kinds of repellent."

David said, "I get bit occasionally, it's not 100% fool proof."

Plus, the buzz off products don't work for everyone. A few people have had allergic reactions like rashes.

With prices like $79 for a pair of pants ...the clothes can be pretty expensive and the protection is washed away after roughly 25 laundry cycles.

A cheaper choice is a Permethrin spray to use on your own clothes. We found a bottle for $6.50.

David said, "They [mosquitoes] don't bother me. They don't pester me. I can concentrate on my job."

He plans to stick with what's already working to make the bugs buzz off.

The buzz off clothes can be found in several sporting good stores.

(Copyright 2005 by WHDHTV 7News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Segment Information

Reported by:

Byron Barnett

Producer:

Christina Mattingly

Contact:

cmattingly@whdh.com

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