Although Costa Rica has the lowest regional mortality rate for vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, the fact remains that children from low-income families are the most affected by mosquito bites. As recently reported by The Costa Rica Star:

The most dangerous organism in Costa Rica is not even a vertebrate, but it kills approximately three quarters of a million humans each year.

Mosquitoes are not only insidious pests; they are extremely harmful vectors of disease. From yellow fever to malaria and from chikungunya to dengue fever, mosquitoes infect hundreds of millions of people each year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malaria claims the life of an African child at the rate of one per minute. In Costa Rica, the Ministry of Public Health has been very active in terms of conducting mosquito control efforts; however, epidemiologists are aware that they are fighting a difficult battle.

While public health efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding grounds have greatly improved conditions in Costa Rica, it is important to remember that climate change, reforestation and biodiversity also tend to attract larger quantities of mosquitoes. To this end, The Costa Rica Star supports all efforts to protect children from these terrible insects. Please take a moment to read this press release to learn how you can help in this regard:

Seattle, WA and Greensboro, NC (PRWEB) November 18, 2014 – Instead of a traditional buy one, get one free offer, Insect Shield is placing two protective blankets in the hands of a child in need for every purchase of one blanket online.

Insect Shield blankets offer built-in protection against mosquitoes, ticks and other dangerous insects that can carry diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and Lyme. The distribution of the blankets will be conducted by Insect Shield’s partner, Medical Teams International, a global health organization that sends more than 200 volunteer teams each year to provide disaster relief and surgeries, as well as general medical and dental care for impoverished people worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization a child dies every minute from malaria in Africa and personal protection against mosquito bites represents the first line of defense for malaria prevention. Insect Shield repellent blankets, which offer built-in protection from mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects, can help.

To purchase and find out more information search for the Twitter hashtag #SuperHeroBlanket

In partnership with international relief organizations such as Medical Teams International and World Vision®, more than 44,000 Insect Shield Protection Blankets have been distributed to impoverished, malaria-risk areas such as Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Cambodia, Philippines, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Haiti and Nicaragua.

Insect Shield Repellent Apparel and Gear are revolutionary products designed to provide long-lasting, effective and convenient personal insect protection. The durable protection provided by Insect Shield is the result of years of research and testing. In July 2003, Insect Shield Repellent Apparel was registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Insect Shield Technology is utilized by leading lifestyle brands, work wear distributors and International relief organizations across the globe to provide effective protection against insects and the diseases they can carry. Insect Shield is an approved vendor of the US Army and US Marine Corps.