10 Practical Tips to be Mosquito-free and Prevent Dengue!

Dengue is one of the common diseases caused by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes during the monsoons. Also known as ‘break bone fever’, these mosquitoes bite during the day (as against malaria, where these parasites attack during the night time). As the common breeding grounds for mosquitoes are man-made containers and stagnant water, implementing few hygiene and sanitation measures might help to prevent the disease. 


Here are a few simple and practical tips to keep dengue at bay:

#1: Turn over empty pails and buckets, so that they do not collect excess water.  If the container that contains water cannot be emptied, remember to cover it well when not in use.

#2: Remember to clean out empty flower pots and not to over water potted plants. It is advised to not have any stagnant water around as it acts as breeding ground for the mosquitoes.

#3: Apply mosquito repellents on all exposed areas, during the day as well as at night on a regular basis to prevent dengue. Here are some innovative ways to keep your home mosquito free.

#4: Make sure your window and door screens do not have any holes. If so, block those areas properly to eliminate mosquitoes.

#5: If someone at home is ill with dengue, try to not let the mosquitoes bite them or others in the house.

#6: Always sleep under a mosquito net (especially small children as they sleep during the day and hence, the chance of mosquito bite is high during this time). Know in detail how to save your baby from mosquito bites.

#7: If you use a cooler remember to empty out and clean the water tray regularly, even when not in use.

#8: Always cover your trash can or dustbin when not in use.

#9: A natural method to keep mosquitoes at bay is to plant tulsi near your window. The plant has properties that do not allow mosquitoes to breed. Read about 10 natural ways to keep your home mosquito-free.

#10: Using camphor as a repellent also works wonders. Light camphor in a room and close all the doors and windows. Leave it this way for about fifteen to twenty minutes to have a mosquito free environment.

Caused due to the bite of an infected female aedes aegypti mosquito, the disease can be fatal. Once bitten it takes about four to ten days for the symptoms to show. The most common symptoms are –

• High fever,
• Severe headache,
• Pain behind the eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swollen glands
• Muscle and joint pain
• Skin rash (in some cases)

The more severe forms of dengue are hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. There is no clear treatment for the condition nor is there a vaccine against it, so the best way is to prevent the disease from occurring at all. As dengue is a completely preventable condition, all you have to do is take a few steps to keep yourself and your family safe. 

Source: http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/prevent-dengue-with-these-10-practical-tips/

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS : DENGUE / DENGUE FEVER

Where does the disease occur?

Dengue is mainly transmitted by a mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and is distributed across  all tropical countries. Ae. aegypti and other species such as Ae. albopictus are highly adaptive and their combined distribution can spread dengue higher up north across Europe or North  America during summer. (Note: Travellers already infected with the virus also spread the disease when they get bitten by the local Aedes mosquito population).

Dengue outbreaks can occur anytime, as long as the mosquitoes are still active. However, in general, high humidity and temperature are conditions that favor mosquito survival, increasing the likelihood of transmission.

What is the treatment for dengue?

There is no vaccine or specific medication for dengue fever.

Patients should seek medical advice, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol  can be taken to bring down fever and reduce joint pains. However, aspirin or ibuprofen should not be taken since they can increase the risk of bleeding.

Patients who are already infected with the dengue virus can transmit the infection  via Aedes mosquitoes after the first symptoms appear (during 4-5 days; maximum 12). As a precautionary approach, patients can adopt measures to reduce transmission by sleeping under a treated net especially during the period of illness  with fever.

Infection with one strain will provide lifetime protection only against that particular strain. However, it is still possible to become infected by other strains and develop into  severe dengue.

When warning signs of severe dengue are present (listed above), it is imperative to  consult a doctor and seek hospitalization to manage the disease.

With proper medical care and early recognition, case-fatality rates are below 1%. However, the overall experience remains very discomforting and  unpleasant.

What should I do if I suspect I have dengue?

If you suspect you have dengue you need to see a doctor immediately. To diagnose  dengue  fever, your doctor will:

·    Evaluate your signs and symptoms;

·    Test your blood for evidence of a dengue virus;

·    Review your medical and travel history.

Persons who had travelled to dengue endemic countries during the past two weeks  should inform the doctor about it.

Personal and household protection

Protecting yourself from mosquito bites is most effective by reducing exposed skin  to  a mosquitoes to bite on. Long-sleeved clothing and mosquito repellents (containing DEET, IR3535 or Icaridin) are  the most viable options.

Window and door screens, air conditioning reduces the risk of mosquitoes coming  into contact with the household members. Mosquito nets (and/or insecticide-treated nets) will also provide additional protection to people sleeping during the  day, or protect against other mosquitoes which can bite at night (such as malaria).  Household insecticides aerosols, mosquito coils or other insecticide vaporizers maybe also  reduce biting  activity.

Source from World Health Organization

MYTHS & TRUTHS

AEDES FACTS !

Aedes aegypti, also known as the “yellow fever mosquito”, is an invasive mosquito. This black and white striped mosquito bites people and animals during the day.

DID YOU KNOW ?

• 1. Only the female Aedes mosquito bites as it needs the protein in blood to develop its eggs. 
• Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in small artificial or natural containers that hold water. Containers can include dishes under potted plants, bird baths, ornamental fountains, tin cans, or discarded tires. Even a small amount of standing water can produce mosquitoes.
• 
  
• 2. The mosquito becomes ineffective approximately seven days after it has bitten a person carrying the virus. 
• This is the extrinsic incubation period, during which time the virus replicates in the mosquito and reaches the salivary glands.
• 
  
• 3. Peak biting is at dawn and dusk.
• This mosquito bites primarily during the day, both indoors and outdoors. They are most active for approximately two hours after sunrise and several hours before sunset, but can bite at night in well-lit areas. Aedes aegypti can bite people without being noticed. This mosquito prefers biting people but it also bites dogs and other domestic animals, mostly mammals. 
• 
  
• 4. The average lifespan of an Aedes mosquito in Nature is two weeks.
• 
  
• 5. The mosquito can lay eggs about three times in its lifetime, and about 100 eggs are produced each time.
• 
  
• 6. The eggs can lie dormant in dry conditions for up to about nine months, after which they can hatch if exposed to favorable conditions, i.e. water and food.
• 
  

Source from National Environment Agency 

LIFECYCLE OF AN AEDES MOSQUITO

AEDES LIFE-CYCLE

Under optimal conditions, the egg of an Aedes mosquito can hatch into a larva in less than a day. The larva then takes about four days to develop into a pupa, from which an adult mosquito will emerge after two days. Three days after the mosquito has bitten a person and taken in blood, it will lay eggs, and the cycle begins again.

Egg

After taking a blood meal, female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes produce on average 100 to 200 eggs per batch. The females can produce up to five batches of eggs during a lifetime. The number of eggs is dependent on the size of the blood meal. Eggs are laid on damp surfaces in areas likely to temporarily flood, such as tree holes and man-made containers like barrels, drums, jars, pots, buckets, flower vases, plant saucers, tanks, discarded bottles, tins, tyres, water cooler, etc. and a lot more places where rain-water collects or is stored. The female Aedes aegypti lays her eggs separately unlike most species. Not all eggs are laid at once, but they can be spread out over hours or days, depending on the availability of suitable substrates. Eggs will most often be placed at varying distances above the water line. The female mosquito will not lay the entire clutch at a single site, but rather spread out the eggs over several sites.

The eggs of Aedes aegypti are smooth, long, ovoid shaped, and roughly one millimeter long. When first laid, eggs appear white but within minutes turn a shiny black. In warm climates eggs may develop in as little as two days, whereas in cooler temperate climates, development can take up to a week. Laid eggs can survive for very long periods in a dry state, often for more than a year. However, they hatch immediately once submerged in water. This makes the control of the dengue virus mosquito very difficult.

Larvae
After hatching of the eggs, the larvae feed on organic particulate matter in the water, such as algae and other microscopic organisms. Most of the larval stage is spent at the water's surface, although they will swim to the bottom of the container if disturbed or when feeding. Larvae are often found around the home in puddles, tires, or within any object holding water. Larval development is temperature dependent. The larvae pass through four in-stars, spending a short amount of time in the first three, and up to three days in the fourth in star. Fourth in-star larvae are approximately eight millimeters long. Males develop faster than females, so males generally pupate earlier. If temperatures are cool, Aedes aegypti can remain in the larval stage for months so long as the water supply is sufficient.

Pupae
After the fourth in-star, the larvae enters the pupal stage (figure 3). Mosquito pupae are mobile and respond to stimuli. Pupae do not feed and take approximately two days to develop. Adults emerge by ingesting air to expand the abdomen thus splitting open the pupal case and emerge head first.

Source from DengueVirusNet.com

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF DENGUE FEVER

SYMPTOMS & SIGNS

Symptoms and signs

• Dengue fever may occur from 3 to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito, commonly within 4 to 7 days.

• It usually starts suddenly with a high fever, rash, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. Rash that does not blanch on pressure may also be present especially on the extremities.

• The fever can be as high as 40-41 'C, and usually continues for 2-7 days. It may be accompanied by fits in children less than 6 years old. The severity of the joint pain has given dengue the name "breakbone fever".

• The rash usually appears 3 to 4 days after the start of the fever.

• Vomiting and loss of appetite are common.

WHAT IS DENGUE FEVER ?

WHAT IS DENGUE FEVER ?

Introduction

Dengue fever is a viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti.

There are four types of viruses that cause dengue fever.

Infection with one of these types of viruses provides protection to only that type for life, so persons living in a dengue-endemic area can have more than one dengue infection during their lifetime.

The disease is now found in more than 100 countries in South and South-East Asia , Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Western Pacific.

Source from Ministry of Health Malaysia