Did you know that there are more than 3000 species of mosquitoes breeding in our planet? Very few animals on earth induce the same aversion that mosquitoes do. Though small in size, they have an uncanny ability to irritate everyone through the persistent hum of their buzzing wings. Their prickly and irritating bites which are always annoying can easily spoil a good night’s sleep. Besides being a nuisance factor, mosquitoes are the carriers of some of the most deadly diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and etc. These diseases cause millions of deaths every year globally with children being the primary victims.
Mosquitoes transmit diseases in numerous ways. Malaria is transmitted when parasites attach themselves to the gut of a female mosquito and enter into the human, she feeds on. While in other cases like dengue and yellow fever, the disease-inducing virus enters the mosquito from an infected human’s blood and is transmitted to others by the same mosquito.
They mostly dwell in clogged rain water, drains, ponds, open containers and other stagnant water bodies. Water is essential for every mosquito to breed, removal or treatment of stagnant water sources pave the way for eradication and population control of mosquitoes.
Here are the few tips to prevent mosquito bites-
- Dispose off buckets, ceramic pots and other containers around your house that may collect water during monsoon season.
- Prevent mosquitoes from entering your home by protecting your windows and doors with mesh screens.
- Avoid venturing outdoors during dusk and dawn. That’s the peak time when mosquitoes go out on a biting spree.
- Try wearing long-sleeve shirts, pants, and socks while you’re outdoors during peak mosquito times.
- Make sure that swimming pools and water tanks in your surroundings are regularly cleaned and chlorinated.
- Wear light colors of clothing as mosquitoes are attracted to dark and intense colors.
- Avoid flowery perfumes while venturing in mosquito prone areas as they are naturally attracted to floral fragrance.
- Turmeric and lavender oils are known to have the qualities of a repellant, so use them to avoid them.
- Use a doctor certified mosquito repellant for children to prevent mosquito bites.
Many a time, we tend to ignore mosquito bites considering them as just bothersome. The risks accompanied with mosquito bites can be as high as contracting Zika, Chikungunya, dengue, and malaria, with all of them being serious life-threatening diseases. Following the old proverb ‘Prevention is better than cure’, seems perfectly apt with respect to mosquitoes and their deadly bites.
