There are no vaccines available to prevent becoming infected with Loa loa. Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) 300mg taken once a week is effective at preventing loiasis in long-term travelers to affected areas. As the deerflies breed in muddy, shaded areas along rivers and are attracted to smoke from wood fires, avoiding those areas may reduce one's risk of infection. Other prevention efforts include personal protection measures against biting insects. This includes wearing insect repellant such as N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) on exposed skin, wearing long sleeves and long pants during the day when deer flies bite, and wearing permethrin- treated clothing. For a description of the CDC's information for preventing insect bites, refer to CDC's Yellow Book. There are currently no large scale control efforts in affected areas.

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