Ways To Protect Yourself And Your Home From The Aedes Mosquito And Dengue Fever

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the dengue virus and is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. When the mosquito bites you, you get injected with some special venom, after which, it sucks your blood. The disease finds its transmission in these criteria and subsequently leads to a dengue infection.

Dengue fever symptoms include a fever, body aches, joint pains, intense headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, mucosal bleeding, and skin rashes. It has no specific treatment, but enough bed rest and fluid intake are important. Most patients recover from it within two weeks,

Yet, a dengue fever can turn severe and leads to dengue hemorrhagic syndrome and dengue shock syndrome.

As an individual, you can play a part in the fight against dengue fever by protecting yourself and your home environment from the Aedes mosquito as well as raising public awareness about mosquito breeding and destroying existing breeding sites.

How To Protect Yourself From Getting Dengue Fever

You can take the following precautions to protect yourself against dengue fever:

  1. Protect yourself against mosquito bites
  2. Avoid visiting areas prone to mosquitoes
  3. Prevent mosquito breeding inside and outside your home

If you are visiting a dengue cluster or a mosquito-prone area, or if you live in a neighborhood identified as a dengue cluster, heed the following advice:

1. Apply Mosquito Repellent, Ideally One Containing
Deet

  1. Apply it to exposed skin and/or clothing, using enough to cover the entire area. Do not apply it under clothing.
  2. When using sprays, never spray directly on the face. Spray it on your hands first and then apply it to your face. Wash your hands afterward.
  3. Do not apply it near the eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears.
  4. Do not apply it to cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
  5. Do not allow children to handle a repellent. When using it on children, apply it to your own hands first and then put it on the child. Avoid applying it to children’s hands.
  6. Do not use an insect repellent for infants under two months of age.

    2. Wear Long Sleeves And Long Pants To Cover Your
    Arms And Legs

    3. Use Mosquito Nets While Sleeping

    If your child gets a rash or other negative reaction from an insect repellent, wash it off with mild soap and water and stop using the product.

    A dengue cluster is formed when 2 or more dengue cases occur within 14 days and the homes of the dengue victims are within the distance of 150m.

    It’s Important To Prevent Mosquitoes From Breeding Both Inside And Outside Your Home

    Inside the home, disease-causing mosquitoes commonly breed in ornamental, plant pot trays and plates, containers, and canvass or plastic sheets. Outside the home, mosquitoes can breed in perimeter drains, discarded containers, and gully traps.

    It’s important to take necessary precautions inside and outside your home to prevent the mosquito from breeding and contribute to dengue prevention.”

    You can take the following precautions to protect your home from mosquitoes:

    Daily

    1. Burn repellent oils inside your home and use insecticide sprays in dark corners such as under the bed, sofa and behind curtains
    2. When not in use, bamboo pole holders should be covered
    3. Loosen the soil in potted plants to prevent accumulation of stagnant water on the surface
    4. Turn over all water storage containers when empty and store them under a shelter

    Alternate days

    1. Remove water from flower or plant pot plates
    2. Change water in vases or bowls

    Weekly

    1. Clear any stagnant water in air cooler units
    2. Clear stagnant water as well as fallen leaves in scupper drains and in the garden

    Monthly

    1. Use sand granular insecticide in roof gutters and gully traps
    2. Clear fallen leaves and other blockages in roof gutters

    5-Step Mozzie Wipe-Out

    This “10-minute 5-step Mozzie Wipe-out” routine can keep your homes free of the Aedes mosquito. The 5 steps are:

    1. Change water in vases/bowls on alternate days.
    2. Turn over all water storage containers.
    3. Remove water from flower pot plates on alternate days.
    4. Cover bamboo pole holders when not in use.
    5. Clear blockages and put BTI insecticide in roof gutters monthly.