Insect Precautions
Bites, stings and contact of some insects cause unpleasant reactions and some may transmit diseases. Mosquitos, ticks, black flies, sand flies, tsetse flies, fleas, mites and lice transmit disease.
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET (e.g. RID, Bushman’s) to exposed skin. Avoid eyelids, lips and damaged skin. Some insect repellents come combined with sunscreen – good for daytime protection.
- Wear long sleeved clothing and long pants / dresses (light coloured) and socks
- Avoid going outside when mosquitos are most active, between dusk and dawn
- Avoid perfumes and aftershaves as the aroma may attract some insects
- Close doors and windows at night or protect them with screens
- Spray inside room / house with aerosol insecticide (for flying insects) at dusk, after closing doors and windows
- Overhead fans or air conditioners are effective in hindering mosquitos from landing
- Use a mosquito proof bed net (preferable impregnated with insecticide – eg permethrin), with edges tucked under mattress, ensure net is not torn
- Treat clothes with insecticide eg permethrin
- Burn mosquito coils or mosquito mats
- Keep away from stagnant or standing water (mosquito breeding grounds)
Note – for ticks – wear long clothing and socks, put insect repellent on ankles under clothing
Mosquito borne diseases include – Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Rift Valley Fever, Dengue Fever (daytime mosquito) and Yellow Fever (daytime mosquito in Africa and South America only).
