When You’re on Holidays Protect yourself From Mosquito Bites

Posted by in Travel Tips on 27-12-2009

Dorothy Yamich asked:


The mosquito is a major cause of many serious diseases throughout the world.  Five of the most widely known mosquito-borne diseases are Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, and West Nile Virus.

Malaria is the most common serious disease caused by mosquitoes. Over a million people die from this disease worldwide each year.

Female mosquitoes deposit their eggs into your bloodstream as they feed on your blood.  These parasite eggs incubate and mature in your liver and then attack your red blood cells.  The first symptoms usually arise within twenty-four hours.  Some symptoms are a high fever, shivers and chills, as well as nausea and vomiting.  This is usually followed by a deep sleep and then a flare up occurs.  If these symptoms repeat themselves every two to three days, you must seek medical attention.  

There’s an anti-malaria drug that can be taken to help protect you when traveling on vacation in mosquito infested tropical climates.  For you to receive maximum protection, this medication should be taken before, during, and after your trip.  However, these pills may not always be completely effective.

Pharmaceutical drugs such as Chloroquine, Doxycycline, Mefloquine, and Fansidar, can be  prescribed to treat malaria, but again, they aren’t always totally effective.  Ask your doctor more about the dosage and length of time that you should take any of these prescription medications. 

You can protect yourself from yellow fever by getting vaccinated by a physician at a local health authority before you travel on your holidays.  This vaccination lasts about ten years and is very effective. 

Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that is transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito.  This disease can be prevented by a series of three vaccinations.

Dengue fever is a viral disease that’s spread by mosquitoes.  There’s no vaccination that will prevent this disease.

The West Nile Virus is also spread by infected mosquitoes.  There is no vaccine available to protect you from this disease.

Always keep in mind that when it comes to the serious mosquito-borne diseases, prevention is always better than a cure, even if there is one.  It’s always best to limit the chances of being bitten and infected by mosquitoes in the first place.  You should always wear loose fitting, long-sleeved shirts and slacks between the hours of dusk and dawn and apply a DEET containing insect repellent when mosquitoes become active near dusk.  Always kill all the mosquitoes in your room before going to sleep, and use mosquito netting and coils when camping or sleeping outdoors.


Avoiding Mosquito Bites at the Beach

Posted by in Travel Tips on 11-12-2009

Michael Stalker asked:


Have you ever run into trouble with mosquitoes at the beach? I have. They can be vicious enough to ruin an otherwise great vacation. My wife and I took a beach trip to Ocracoke Island, NC last summer and the mosquitoes bit right through our clothing. In fact, the only other place I have seen mosquitoes so ferocious was at Mt. Tallac in Lake Tahoe. So what can you do about it?

Buy bug spray that contains DEET. My wife and I tried two other types of spray that didn’t have DEET. One kept the mosquitoes at bay for only a few minutes. The other did no good at all. We eventually bought some stronger bug spray at a nearby beach grocery store. Stay away from dense bushy areas and creeks. If you decide to camp, pick your site wisely. Streams and bushes make for a pleasant picnic area or campsite. They also make for an insect problem. Visit the beach in the off season. Mosquitoes are worst in the summer. Stay inside at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes are most active at these times of the day. They probably won’t bother you as much if you want to go down to the shore to watch a sunset, but be sure to bring some repellant, just in case. Wear thick clothing or a good rain jacket. It’s harder for pests to bite through these. This may not be a great option for you in the heat of the summer, but it sure beats being eaten alive! Stay in a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast. The only real trouble with mosquitoes I’ve run into at the beach was while I camped out. Run. Walking gives the mosquitoes ample time to find you and land on you. If you have to traverse through a bug-infested area of the beach, move as quickly as possible! Running won’t keep you from getting bitten, but it will reduce the number of mosquitoes that attack.