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Travel Health > preventing bites
Preventing Insect Bites
Malaria, Dengue and Yellow Fever are some
of the common diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. First line
of protection for the business traveller against any insect
borne disease, is don't get bitten in the first place.
Mosquitoes
Malaria mosquitoes feed between dusk
and dawn, usually preferring low light hours after dusk until
dawn.
Other types of mosquitoes carrying different
diseases bite at other times of day. Mosquitoes tend to respond
to light in their feeding habits, some preferring daylight,
others darkness.
Dengue carrying mosquitoes peak biting
times are the few hours before dusk and the few hours after
dawn and are present during the day light hours.
Yellow Fever - if you are travelling
to a Yellow Fever area you are strongly advised to have a
Yellow Fever vaccination.
Avoid Bites
Apply a good mosquito repellent, ideally one
containing DEET, to exposed areas every 6 hours or more if
you sweat a lot. If wearing sunscreen, apply your repellent
on top. For high risk rural areas clothes can also be impregnated
with repellent for further protection.
Keep your legs and arms covered with clothing
to lower risk of bites on the skin. Use a 'knock-down' spray
in the evening to get rid of mosquitoes before going to sleep.
Avoid strong perfumes, hair sprays or after-shaves
as they can attract mosquitoes.
Use air-conditioning if it is available. Because
air conditioning helps keep the mosquitoes away due to the
lower temperature, it is important that it is left on all
day. Windows and shutters should remain closed.
Try to avoid evening walks beside rivers and
ponds as this is where mosquitoes breed.
Use this information along with any medication
advice your doctor has given you.
General Insect Bite Prevention
Wear long sleeves and trousers with socks
when possible. While mosquitoes are able to bite through many
materials, canvas mosquito boots and thick denim jeans will
make it more difficult in rural areas, where the risks are
always the greatest.
In a risk area, it is wise to use a mosquito
net, which is impregnated with permethrin. For a net to be
effective, it needs to be impregnated with permethrin at least
every six months or whenever it is washed. While sand flies
will be able to get through the holes, by landing on a net
that is impregnated, they will be killed.
Use a repellent that has DEET or contains
a natural repellent such as lemon and eucalyptus; try to avoid
using products that are connected to home-made concoctions!
Clothing that has been impregnated with permethrin
will also help repel insects if you will be working in a rural
area. This clothing, along with impregnated wrist and ankle
bands, lower the risk of being bitten.
If you are reluctant to impregnate everyday
clothing, impregnated netting worn over the clothing will
prevent chemical contact with the skin. It is important that
fellow travellers are protected in a similar way, as repelled
mosquitoes will go to another person who is not protected!
To do ...
- Buy bite prevention items
- Anti- Malaria tablets
- Get an appointment with Doctor
Shopping list ...
- Insect repellent
- Mosquito net for rural trips and re-impregnation
kit
- See doctor or TravelHealth advisor for
specific advice about the area you are visiting
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