Free Shipping | 866-377-8700
0
  • No products in the cart.
Total:$0.00
 

Blog

15 Jul

Posted at 18:23h in Blog by

Although Brazilian officials state that there is no risk of contracting Zika during the Olympics taking place in Rio de Janeiro this August, many are still incredibly skeptical of Brazil’s optimism. According to an article written by The Washington Post, Brazil’s new health minister, Ricardo Barros, says that there’s an almost zero chance of contracting Zika. As of June, cases of Zika have dropped from 3,000 cases a week to 30 and officials say that 80% of the city’s buildings have been inspected for mosquito breeding sites.  The World Health Organization has also met twice to discuss the subject of Zika and whether or not hosting the games in Brazil may increase the spread of Zika.  They have ruled that there is no risk and that the games should take place as planned. However, the locals aren’t as optimistic. Many Brazilians are skeptical of the government’s positive outlook due to the country’s...

08 Jul

Posted at 13:47h in Blog by

Inovio Pharmaceuticals has announced that it will soon begin testing its Zika vaccine, making this the first human trial. The company is based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, and worked with Gene One Life Science in South Korea to create the vaccine. This Zika vaccine has been named GLS-5700 and will be tested on 40 volunteer subjects. According to Inovio the testing should begin within the next few weeks. Prior to this, there was a round of testing conducted on animals, and Inovio announced the results were very promising. As they move into the next phase of their testing with human subjects, they hope that these results will be just as successful. However, even if this round of testing is successful, it will be quite some time before an effective Zika vaccine hits the market. Further testing will have to be conducted to make sure that the vaccine is safe and meets the...

27 Jun

Posted at 14:25h in Blog by

Even with Zika rising in numbers, to most of us mosquito bites are just annoying nuisances. Most times you're bitten, you’re itchy for a few days.  Then it's out of sight and mind regarding the bite. However, scientists at the University of Leeds in England have discovered a possibility that the inflammation and irritation caused by a mosquito bite may make viruses easier to replicate, thus increasing the odds of viral infection. In their experiment, scientists at the University of Leeds infected mice with Zika, dengue and other viral diseases either through injections or mosquito bites. They found that the group of mice that had been bitten by mosquitoes showed higher rates of viral infections than the group that had been injected. These findings have lead researchers to believe that the mosquito bites themselves may make it easier to get viral infections. This may be because when a mosquito bites a victim,...

17 Jun

Posted at 16:54h in Blog by

If you haven’t bought yourself a bottle of NET effect yet, it’s likely that you’re no stranger to insect bites. Ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers and no-see-ums can cause irritation, swelling and rashes. Here are a few tips on treating your bites and stings. We hope next time you remember to use NET effect to protect yourself! One of the first things you should do after a sting or bite is to evacuate the location where you were bitten. This may seem self-explanatory, but what many people don’t know is that insects such as bees will alert others in the hive, making it more likely for them to sting you as well. It’s important to remember to move slowly, as rapid movement alarms insects such as wasps and bees and allows venom to spread through the bloodstream more quickly. If you’ve been stung by a bee or wasp, remove any stingers that may have...

09 Jun

Posted at 16:45h in Blog by

With Zika still plaguing Central and South America, and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro quickly approaching, many athletes are debating whether or not they want to risk their health to participate. The Zika virus has been found to cause birth defects in unborn children and can be sexually transmitted, making many Olympic athletes wary of putting themselves and their families at risk if they decide to participate in the games. Rory McIlroy, who is set to represent Ireland in the 2016 Olympic Games, has shared many concerns about the Zika epidemic. The golfer has stated he’s considering starting a family with his fiancée in the next few years and is afraid of anything affecting those plans. McIlroy says that, at the moment, he is still ready to play in Brazil but has some concerns. Many other high-profile athletes, such as Pau Gasol, have also said that their decision to participate...

23 May

Posted at 13:49h in Blog by

According to studies conducted by the Weekly Journal of Science, aerosols are culpable in hundreds of millions of deaths due to pollution and toxicity. When aerosols are inhaled, they can cause respiratory problems as well, which can be especially dangerous for young children. They’re also incredibly harmful to the environment, as some aerosols can come into contact with clouds and fall back down to Earth as acid rain. An article published by The Guardian states that aerosol sprays contribute to a mixture of chemicals in the air that can have a harmful impact on pregnant women and babies; among these are spray-on insect repellents. However, with the Zika virus cases on the rise, these two groups are the ones who need the most protection from insects. Zika is an epidemic in many regions of the world and cases have begun to pop up in North America. The virus causes microcephaly in...

17 May

Posted at 13:20h in Blog by

With no vaccine yet available, Zika continues to plague South and Central America, causing birth defects in thousands of infants. According to CBS news, at least 427 people have visited areas where Zika is widespread, returning to the United States with symptoms. The virus is rarely fatal and usually doesn’t cause symptoms more severe than a mild fever, rash or joint pain. However, the virus has been proven to cause microcephaly in unborn children, making the virus incredibly dangerous when it’s contracted by pregnant women. Mosquito season is just around the corner, and researchers fear that this might be an opening for Zika to spread throughout the United States. Both researchers and state governments have asked for federal funding to fast-track research in creating a Zika vaccine, as well as funds for states to take preventive measures against the spread of the virus. In February, President Obama submitted an emergency request to...

09 May

Posted at 16:15h in Blog by

The Zika virus has been discovered in the Aedes albopictus, more commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito, for the first time in the Western hemisphere. This has researchers worried that the Zika virus may spread to the Northeast and Midwest. The discovery was reported by the Pan American Health Organization after researchers in Mexico reported that the Zika virus had been found in Asian tiger mosquitoes. The primary carrier of Zika so far has been another species of mosquito called the Aedes aegypti. This species is much less widespread than the albopictus, giving researchers the hope that the spread of Zika would be contained. However, the albopictus has a range that goes as far north as New England, which means there is now a possibility of Zika spreading further throughout the United States. The geographical reach of the Asian tiger mosquito is just one of many factors making it dangerous. The...

19 Apr

Posted at 16:33h in Blog by

Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida has begun to search for a Zika virus cure. As of April 6th, the Centers for Disease Control state that there are 78 reported cases of Zika in Florida. The state has the most cases of the virus in the country, urging the researchers at Scripps to take action. While the virus was discovered decades ago, there is little in the way of funding or research on it. This is because the disease was previously not widespread, with cases being quite uncommon. Additionally, the medical community wasn’t fully aware of how dangerous Zika is to unborn children. Our understanding of the virus is lacking, and researchers find themselves perplexed by Zika’s ability to penetrate a mother’s placenta and harm her unborn child—a feat of which not many viruses are capable. The lack of funding also presents serious issues. Research for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s...

28 Mar

Posted at 14:38h in Blog by

The outbreak of Zika has become a worldwide epidemic. Cases continue to increase in North, South and Central America, putting unborn children at risk due to the disease’s link with microcephaly, which can cause infants to be born with deformed heads. Research is still in the works, but there is also a possibility that the disease may cause mental deficiencies along with the afore-mentioned physical deformities. Scientists are beginning to think that global warming may have an effect on the increase of Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Global warming has been shown to cause increases in both temperature and the amount of rainfall we receive. These factors cause more standing pools of water and produce humid environments, creating the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. In western countries, many diseases spread through mosquitoes have been eradicated, lowering the population’s immunity to them. With Zika on the rise and global warming possibly increasing the risk...