How to Prevent Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is an acute viral infection caused by bites from the Aedes aeqypti mosquito when the insect is carrying the dengue virus. It is prevalent in tropical nations particularly in the urban areas of Asian and Southern American countries. The disease is characterized by fever, severe headaches and muscle and joint pain, but it can be prevented.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Long clothing
• Insect repellent
• Mosquito nets
• Insecticides

1. Wear long clothing when in an infected tropical area. The virus is spread to humans through bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which feeds during the day. Long clothing, such as pants and long-sleeved shirts, reduce the amount of exposed skin and lower the chances of a mosquito bite and subsequent transmission of the disease.

2. Use insect repellent to reduce the risk of an infecting bite. Apply the repellent to all exposed skin including the back of the neck, which is a popular place for mosquito bites.

3. Consider sleeping in a mosquito net especially when in less developed countries and regions. Though the Aedes aeqypti mosquito feeds during the day, a mosquito net can limit the risks of a bite at night or a bite by another disease-carrying insect.

4. Control the mosquito population with the use of insecticides through regular spraying around the area you spend the most time outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no vaccine to prevent the disease through clinical trials are progressing.