My dear readers, i have been away for over a month and i know you have missed reading my posts. Well, i went on a vacation, and i rested well. I have a refreshed head now and ready to bring you more interesting posts. This is the season when mosquitoes strive and are looking for human blood to feed on. When mosquitoes bite they inject sporozoites into th blood stream thereby transmitting Malaria.
The female Anopheles mosquitoes pick up parasite from humans who are infected when they suck blood to feed their eggs. Out of over 430 Anopheles species that exist only about 30-40 transmits malaria. Mosquitoes have those that hide indoors (endophilic) and those that stay outside (exophilic). Malaria is very harmful to pregnant women and children. According to the W.H.O. 2014 report on malaria, there was an estimated 198 million cases of Malaria worldwide in 2013, 584,000 deaths are caused by Malaria, 90 percent of which occur in Africa.
Ways To Prevent Mosquito Bites
In order to stay free from Malaria you should first prevent mosquitoe bites by taking some precautionary measures which includes the following
1. Wear Protective And Bright Coloured Clothing:
When going outdoors wear Loose Long-sleeved shirts and trousers in order to completely cover the skin. Clothing may also be sprayed with permit rin. Wear shoes and socks that cover the feet well. Do not wear tight clothing with thin fabric as mosquitoes can bite through them. Wear bright coloured clothes because mosquitoes are naturally attracted to tight dark coloured clothes,especially black and blue so wear bright colours which will not attract them.
2. Keep Your Surroundings Clean:
Make sure your compound is clean and get rid of any standing water where mosquitoes can breed in. If you have a pool, always cover it when it is not in use and treat it with chemicals such as chlorine. Cut all grasses and do not allow dead tree leaves to linger around or heaped around the compound, get rid of old tires and used containers, natural low points on a piece of property because they form breeding ground for mosquitoes.
3. Use Mosquito Repellents:
Apply repellents specially formulated such as DEET (NN-diethyl-m-toluamide) 30%-50% which are recommended for adults and children over 2 months. Apply to uncovered skin when going outdoors or to the bush and it is effective for several hours.
4. Sleep Under Treated Mosquito Nets:
According to UNICEF, about one billion insecticide treated nets have been distributed in Africa between the year 2000 and 2015. It is advised to sleep under Permethrin treated net because it has fine holes that are big enough to allow breeze to easily pass through but can not allow biting mosquitoes to get in. Make sure to sleep without touching the sides. Also put nets on the windows so that mosquitoes can not come in.
5. Use Insecticide Spray and Coils:
TO drive away mosquitoes from inside the house. Make sure to not stay in when you do because they are harmful to health, as some people complain to find it difficult to breath, and cough after inhaling the smoke from coils.
6. Put On The Fan & Wear Thick Socks Before Going To Bed:
Also, if you have a lot of mosquitoes around the house, sleep with the fan on because strong breeze drive them away, you can also wear thick socks on your hands and feet to cover them since clothing can not cover them properly. And don't forget to rub mentholated petroleum jelly on your ankles, wrists, and shoulder if you can not cover them maybe due to hot weather and absence of electricity.
If you follow the above measures you will surely be free from mosquito bites as well as Malaria.
