Chikungunya fever and dengue fever are 2 common viral illnesses that are transmitted by the bites of infected aedes mosquito. So far, no vaccine available and prevention is important. 2 principal aspects are to avoid mosquito bites and to reduce or prevent them from breeding.
To avoid mosquito bites:
· Wear full sleeve clothes and long dresses to cover as much skin as possible; If possible, wear bite-proof cloth.
· use mosquito repellents on exposed skin and on clothing in accordance with label instructions
· Use mosquito coils, insecticide vaporizers and electric vapor mats during the daytime;
· Use mosquito nets – to protect babies, old people and others, who may rest during the day. The effectiveness of such nets can be improved by treating them with permethrin (pyrethroid insecticide - a class of insecticides that often has repellent properties.).
· Curtains (cloth or bamboo) can also be treated with insecticide and hung at windows or doorways, to repel or kill mosquitoes.
· Mosquitoes become infected when they bite people who are sick with chikugunya. Mosquito nets and mosquito coils will effectively prevent mosquitoes from biting sick people. The infected people should be isolated and preferably sleep in a net to prevent further mosquito bites that will transfer the virus to other host.
· The other alternative is electronic insect swatter – you kill the mosquito by swatting them and they will be electrocuted, it does sounds cruel, but I am tired of this mosquito business and for some reason I‘ve found the mosquito already develop some kinds of immunization against the insecticide, so, might as well we just kill them once and for all, if we have the chance to do so…
To reduce or if possible to prevent mosquito breeding
The Aedes mosquitoes that transmit these viruses breed in a wide variety of manmade containers which are common around human dwellings and workplaces. These containers collect rainwater, and include discarded tires, flowerpots, old oil drums, animal water troughs, water storage vessels, and plastic food containers. These breeding sites can be eliminated by
· Draining water from coolers, tanks, barrels, drums and buckets, etc.;
· Emptying coolers when not in use;
· It will be good if we can removing from the house all objects ( e.g. plant saucers, etc) which have water collected in them
- For containers that are in use, turn them over or empty every 3–4 days to prevent mosquito breeding including any water-filled containers indoors. Alternatively, completely cover them to keep out mosquitoes.
· Cooperating with the public health authorities in anti-mosquito measures. Any case that has been suspected to be chikugunya or dengue fever should be reported and notified to public health authority so they can take the most appropriate action.
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