speech on prevention of mosquitoes
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Although there are vaccines and medication to protect against vectorborne diseases (diseases carried by biting arthropods such as mosquitoes) such as malaria and Yellow Fever, the best protection against these diseases is to protect yourself against their bites. The major reason for this is that for some vectorborne disease such as dengue and chikungunya there is no prevention or treatment so preventing mosquito bites is the only method of prevention. Mosquitoes bite in order to feed on blood. Following the precautions below can markedly reduce your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes.
Know when you are likely to be bitten: Mosquitoes can bite at any time of day but they can be predicted with some certainty. Mosquitoes that carry dengue, chikungunya tend to bite during daylight hours. Those that carry malaria tend to bite either at dawn or dusk or during the night. The Aedes mosquito that spreads Zika virus is active during the day as well as at night, so, in Zika-affected areas, it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. Older people and children should tend to remain indoors during these periods if there are a lot of biting mosquitoes around. Mosquitoes bite from April until October in temperate climates and all year round in tropical areas.
Know where you are likely to be bitten: mosquitoes are most frequently found near stagnant water in pools, ponds, old tyres, water gathered on roof tops and other such places.
Wear appropriate clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, boots and socks. Tucked in shirts and closed shoes instead of sandals may reduce the likelihood of being bitten. Clothing may also be treated with insect repellents.
Protect your room: mosquito bites can be reduced by air conditioning, insect-proof screens on windows and doors and spraying the room with insecticide.
Protect your bed: Bed nets and cot nets should be used if rooms are not adequately screened or air conditioned be used if necessary and are particularly effective if treated. If bed nets do not reach the floor, they should be tucked under the mattress.
There is a range of insecticides that can be used on skin and to treat clothes and bed nets. However, the UK's PHE Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention (ACMP) strongly recommends DEET-based insect repellents as these are the most effective.
It is important to remember, that if you were born in a malarious part of the world, and you bring your children back on a visit to your country of origin, your children who have been born in Ireland will have no immunity against diseases such as malaria - it is very important to ensure they receive appropriate anti-malarial medication (along with any necessary vaccinations for example against Yellow Fever) and that you minimise the risk of your child being bitten my mosquitoes.
If you are pregnant, you should seek to prevent mosquito bites in the first instance. If you are at risk of malaria when travelling, then pregnant women can use DEET as an insect repellent. CDC and the UK’s Bumps (run by the UK Teratology Information Service) advise that pregnant women can use DEET as a mosquito repellent, if they ensure to a) use it sparingly and b) wash it off when away from risk of biting mosquitoes, as it is a chemical applied to the skin. The risk to a pregnant woman's unborn baby, certainly from malaria, would outweigh any potential risk from DEET.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a useful resource on Protection Against Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Insects and Arthropods.
Finally, general advice on protecting your health while travelling is available
Know when you are likely to be bitten: Mosquitoes can bite at any time of day but they can be predicted with some certainty. Mosquitoes that carry dengue, chikungunya tend to bite during daylight hours. Those that carry malaria tend to bite either at dawn or dusk or during the night. The Aedes mosquito that spreads Zika virus is active during the day as well as at night, so, in Zika-affected areas, it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. Older people and children should tend to remain indoors during these periods if there are a lot of biting mosquitoes around. Mosquitoes bite from April until October in temperate climates and all year round in tropical areas.
Know where you are likely to be bitten: mosquitoes are most frequently found near stagnant water in pools, ponds, old tyres, water gathered on roof tops and other such places.
Wear appropriate clothing: Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, boots and socks. Tucked in shirts and closed shoes instead of sandals may reduce the likelihood of being bitten. Clothing may also be treated with insect repellents.
Protect your room: mosquito bites can be reduced by air conditioning, insect-proof screens on windows and doors and spraying the room with insecticide.
Protect your bed: Bed nets and cot nets should be used if rooms are not adequately screened or air conditioned be used if necessary and are particularly effective if treated. If bed nets do not reach the floor, they should be tucked under the mattress.
There is a range of insecticides that can be used on skin and to treat clothes and bed nets. However, the UK's PHE Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention (ACMP) strongly recommends DEET-based insect repellents as these are the most effective.
It is important to remember, that if you were born in a malarious part of the world, and you bring your children back on a visit to your country of origin, your children who have been born in Ireland will have no immunity against diseases such as malaria - it is very important to ensure they receive appropriate anti-malarial medication (along with any necessary vaccinations for example against Yellow Fever) and that you minimise the risk of your child being bitten my mosquitoes.
If you are pregnant, you should seek to prevent mosquito bites in the first instance. If you are at risk of malaria when travelling, then pregnant women can use DEET as an insect repellent. CDC and the UK’s Bumps (run by the UK Teratology Information Service) advise that pregnant women can use DEET as a mosquito repellent, if they ensure to a) use it sparingly and b) wash it off when away from risk of biting mosquitoes, as it is a chemical applied to the skin. The risk to a pregnant woman's unborn baby, certainly from malaria, would outweigh any potential risk from DEET.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a useful resource on Protection Against Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Insects and Arthropods.
Finally, general advice on protecting your health while travelling is available
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Mosquitoes are often a nuisance during warmer months. They multiply quickly and can become a problem if you do not take steps to control their population. But as with most pests, control starts with prevention.
In addition to leaving you scratching bites that itch, some types of mosquitoes are also linked to the spread of diseases. Mosquitoes are known to carry strains of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis and West Nile virus.
Here’s how to prevent mosquitoes in eight simple steps.
REMOVE SOURCES OF STANDING WATER.
Mosquitoes need standing water in order to lay their eggs. Removing old tires, buckets, plastic sheeting or covers, and old containers that may have filled with water will reduce the available habitat in your yard. Other likely breeding spots for common types of mosquitoes include garbage cans, tarps, dripping outdoor faucets and poorly drained areas. Preventing mosquitoes depends heavily on habitat reduction.
CLEAN OUT THE GUTTERS.
In addition to getting rid of ground sources for standing water, it is also important to maintain your gutter system. Leaves and other debris can build up in your gutter and down spouts leading to water retention in the entire system. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as one inch of stagnant water, so that clogged gutter is a dirty, wet welcome mat for them.
CHANGE OUT WATER SOURCES WEEKLY.
Emptying or replacing the water in outdoor pet bowls, fountains and birdbaths, rain barrels and plant containers weekly will break the mosquito breeding cycle. By keeping these water sources clean and well maintained the mosquito larvae won’t have time to develop.
DRAIN WATER AND FILL UP LOW AREAS.
Make sure you are draining any areas where water can temporarily accumulate after rainfall or excessive watering. If there are areas prone to water accumulation, consider filling them in with dirt to level out the surface and prevent the problem altogether.
PRACTICE PROPER POOL MAINTENANCE AND KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON WATER FEATURES.
Mosquitoes will use any still source of water to lay their eggs. An inground swimming pool that is not properly cared for offers them a vast expanse of water to fill with eggs. Make sure that you are keeping up with your pool’s water treatment plan and checking on its filters and water circulation to keep the mosquitoes out. Plastic wading pools for children or dogs and aboveground pools should also be checked regularly for signs of mosquito activity. Remove weeds that spring up around water features or ponds, and consider the addition of certain types of minnows. Fathead minnows, for example, feed on mosquito larvae and are a good way to control the mosquito population.
In addition to leaving you scratching bites that itch, some types of mosquitoes are also linked to the spread of diseases. Mosquitoes are known to carry strains of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis and West Nile virus.
Here’s how to prevent mosquitoes in eight simple steps.
REMOVE SOURCES OF STANDING WATER.
Mosquitoes need standing water in order to lay their eggs. Removing old tires, buckets, plastic sheeting or covers, and old containers that may have filled with water will reduce the available habitat in your yard. Other likely breeding spots for common types of mosquitoes include garbage cans, tarps, dripping outdoor faucets and poorly drained areas. Preventing mosquitoes depends heavily on habitat reduction.
CLEAN OUT THE GUTTERS.
In addition to getting rid of ground sources for standing water, it is also important to maintain your gutter system. Leaves and other debris can build up in your gutter and down spouts leading to water retention in the entire system. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as one inch of stagnant water, so that clogged gutter is a dirty, wet welcome mat for them.
CHANGE OUT WATER SOURCES WEEKLY.
Emptying or replacing the water in outdoor pet bowls, fountains and birdbaths, rain barrels and plant containers weekly will break the mosquito breeding cycle. By keeping these water sources clean and well maintained the mosquito larvae won’t have time to develop.
DRAIN WATER AND FILL UP LOW AREAS.
Make sure you are draining any areas where water can temporarily accumulate after rainfall or excessive watering. If there are areas prone to water accumulation, consider filling them in with dirt to level out the surface and prevent the problem altogether.
PRACTICE PROPER POOL MAINTENANCE AND KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON WATER FEATURES.
Mosquitoes will use any still source of water to lay their eggs. An inground swimming pool that is not properly cared for offers them a vast expanse of water to fill with eggs. Make sure that you are keeping up with your pool’s water treatment plan and checking on its filters and water circulation to keep the mosquitoes out. Plastic wading pools for children or dogs and aboveground pools should also be checked regularly for signs of mosquito activity. Remove weeds that spring up around water features or ponds, and consider the addition of certain types of minnows. Fathead minnows, for example, feed on mosquito larvae and are a good way to control the mosquito population.
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