Wellmark International’s PreStrike™ Wins Equine Product Awards
Products Designed to Minimize West Nile Virus Impact
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (April 23, 2004) - During 2003, over 5,000 horses were infected with West Nile Virus with Texas reporting the most cases (717) followed by Pennsylvania (527), Colorado (426) and New Mexico (420). Given that a teaspoon of water provides a breeding environment capable of producing hundreds of mosquitoes, treating the horse’s living area is a critical step in disease prevention. PreStrike (www.prestrike.com) from Wellmark International can be found at a wide variety of retail outlets and comes in a variety of non-clouding formulations that have proven to be effective for treating standing water where mosquitoes breed. In March, Wellmark’s PreStrike Bot Fly and Mosquito Repellent for Horses and Ponies received the “Best New Equine Product Award" from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA). It also received an award for its new PreStrike™ Wipe Away insecticide towelette product.
PreStrike larvicide is a preventative mosquito control product that kills developing mosquitoes before they hatch by using an insect growth regulator. This product differs significantly from most insecticide products on the market today. Instead of killing adult mosquitoes after they have already had the chance to bite, PreStrike actually prevents them from ever reaching the breeding, biting adult stage. Stable operators or horse owners can use this product by sprinkling the PreStrike granular formula in standing water where mosquitoes may breed to protect against any potential mosquito breeding ground. It provides long-lasting mosquito control for up to 21 days. Wellmark plans on introducing a 30-day product later this year.
PreStrike Wipe Away™ comes in a convenient, easy-to-carry package that makes it ideal to take along. It is simply wiped on the animal and can be reapplied on a weekly basis for continuous protection during mosquito season. PreStrike Bot Fly and Mosquito Repellent should be sprayed on the horse every three to five days to effectively manage mosquitoes and other nuisance insects such as face flies and gnats.
“All of us at Wellmark are proud of the fact that PreStrike has been recognized by a leading organization like the APPMA and equally pleased that we’re able to help animal lovers provide the care their four-legged friends deserve,” said Mark Newberg, Wellmark International Corporate Communications Director. “PreStrike’s proven effectiveness in the professional marketplace make it a logical choice for horse owners who are concerned about mosquito-borne viruses and other pests that are a nuisance to horses.”
About Wellmark International
Wellmark International (www.wellmarkinternational.com) is a leading manufacturer of products to control economic, nuisance and disease-carrying insects and is dedicated to improving the wellness of people and pets through effective pest management. Wellmark International is a leading producer of chemical and biorational products for professional pest control and pioneered insect growth regulators—using the insect’s own chemistry as a means to reduce pest populations.
