The Zika virus is a disease carried by Aedes mosquitoes, the same mosquito species also disseminates the Dengue or Cikungunya virus. Aedes mosquitoes are usually very active during the day, when you are also being active-active activities. Thus, during the daytime activities, including when you are traveling to an area you need to be careful with this mosquito. How to prevent Zika virus while traveling?
1. Use standardized anti-mosquito drugs
How to safely prevent the main Zika virus is to use anti-mosquito repellent. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States recommend using anti-mosquito repellent products with active ingredients containing DEET, or picaridin, IR 3535, 2-undecanone, and a natural product of lemon eucalyptus oil.
Other natural products such as cepscian, citronella, geraniol, garlic, and lemongrass, have no effect on mosquitoes or are effective only for less than 30 minutes. To be safe, use a product that is already clinically tested.
DEET is one of the most standard for mosquito repellent, according to Musthapa Debboun, Ph.D. a director of the mosquito control division at a public health and disease control agency in Houston.
Although the long-term effects of DEET have not been studied further, a 2014 study in the journal Parasites and Vectors found no evidence of negative side-effects. This study looked at the effects of DEET in pregnant women in the first trimester. Some pregnant women use DEET in one group, while one other group is not given DEET. Six months after delivery, female infants between the two groups did not show any difference in nerve function, weight, height, head size, or different hand size.
2. Apply mosquito repellent properly
While traveling, you may often use sunscreen. To prevent the bite of Aedes mosquito carrying the virus zika, use anti-mosquito repellent after applying sunscreen on the skin. If not, SPF can cover the effectiveness of anti-mosquito repellent.
Do not forget to always apply on the feet and ankles. Zika virus carrying mosquitoes have special appeal on the legs.
To protect the child, spray or pour anti-mosquito repellent into the hand first before rubbing it on the child's skin. Avoid the eyes and mouths of children, and give also on the part around the ear.
Do not use anti-mosquito drugs whose DEET concentrations are above 30 percent or higher for children.
Eucalyptus lemon oil should not be used for children younger than 3 years. Any mosquito repellent should not be given to children younger than 2 months, should be protected with mosquito nets.
Follow the instructions of the product in its use how often it may be used. Usually anti-mosquito drugs do not need to be applied as often as sunscreen. Launched in the Zika Foundation page, apply a repeater after the next 6-8 hours.
3. Clothes closed
If you travel to a hot area and potentially a lot of Aedes mosquitoes, you should use a closed suit to prevent the Zika virus from mosquito bites.
Use long pants and long sleeves. Because Aedes mosquitoes are more interested in the legs, then use closed shoes with socks to be more secure, rather than using open sandals. In addition, protect the head also with a hat. Mosquitoes carrying Zika virus prefer to choose the part:
4. Be careful with puddles
With just one tablespoon of water alone, this Aedes mosquito can breed to produce 300 more mosquitoes. So be careful with the smallest puddles. Mosquitoes can breed at the bottom of the glasses in the bathroom to put a toothbrush, or in a sinkhole, and other places that water up.
So that, when traveling and will stay, pay attention to the surrounding conditions. Eliminate puddles all around the corner where you stay.
If there is a swimming pool, you do not have to worry because the chlorine in the pool water is able to prevent mosquitoes from developing, so the pool is clean and safe to swim.
5. Take a clean bath
How to prevent the simplest Zika virus you can also do while bathing. When bathing, use a non-perfumed soap to reduce skin bacteria that attract Aedes mosquitoes. Also bathe regularly, do not get too long not to bathe.
It aims to avoid the buildup of bacteria on the skin. Bacteria that make bad body odor is the main bait for mosquitoes carrying the virus Zika.
1. Use standardized anti-mosquito drugs
Other natural products such as cepscian, citronella, geraniol, garlic, and lemongrass, have no effect on mosquitoes or are effective only for less than 30 minutes. To be safe, use a product that is already clinically tested.
DEET is one of the most standard for mosquito repellent, according to Musthapa Debboun, Ph.D. a director of the mosquito control division at a public health and disease control agency in Houston.
Although the long-term effects of DEET have not been studied further, a 2014 study in the journal Parasites and Vectors found no evidence of negative side-effects. This study looked at the effects of DEET in pregnant women in the first trimester. Some pregnant women use DEET in one group, while one other group is not given DEET. Six months after delivery, female infants between the two groups did not show any difference in nerve function, weight, height, head size, or different hand size.
2. Apply mosquito repellent properly
Do not forget to always apply on the feet and ankles. Zika virus carrying mosquitoes have special appeal on the legs.
To protect the child, spray or pour anti-mosquito repellent into the hand first before rubbing it on the child's skin. Avoid the eyes and mouths of children, and give also on the part around the ear.
Do not use anti-mosquito drugs whose DEET concentrations are above 30 percent or higher for children.
Eucalyptus lemon oil should not be used for children younger than 3 years. Any mosquito repellent should not be given to children younger than 2 months, should be protected with mosquito nets.
Follow the instructions of the product in its use how often it may be used. Usually anti-mosquito drugs do not need to be applied as often as sunscreen. Launched in the Zika Foundation page, apply a repeater after the next 6-8 hours.
3. Clothes closed
If you travel to a hot area and potentially a lot of Aedes mosquitoes, you should use a closed suit to prevent the Zika virus from mosquito bites.
Use long pants and long sleeves. Because Aedes mosquitoes are more interested in the legs, then use closed shoes with socks to be more secure, rather than using open sandals. In addition, protect the head also with a hat. Mosquitoes carrying Zika virus prefer to choose the part:
- 15 percent of Aedes mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus will attack the upper hand, back of head, neck, or shoulder.
- 25 percent attack the upper leg and lower hand.
- 60 percent will attack the legs from knee down.
4. Be careful with puddles
With just one tablespoon of water alone, this Aedes mosquito can breed to produce 300 more mosquitoes. So be careful with the smallest puddles. Mosquitoes can breed at the bottom of the glasses in the bathroom to put a toothbrush, or in a sinkhole, and other places that water up.
So that, when traveling and will stay, pay attention to the surrounding conditions. Eliminate puddles all around the corner where you stay.
If there is a swimming pool, you do not have to worry because the chlorine in the pool water is able to prevent mosquitoes from developing, so the pool is clean and safe to swim.
5. Take a clean bath
How to prevent the simplest Zika virus you can also do while bathing. When bathing, use a non-perfumed soap to reduce skin bacteria that attract Aedes mosquitoes. Also bathe regularly, do not get too long not to bathe.
It aims to avoid the buildup of bacteria on the skin. Bacteria that make bad body odor is the main bait for mosquitoes carrying the virus Zika.
