Two kinds of mosquito
Two groups of mosquito matter most in India. They behave differently, so you need to protect yourself at different times.
| Mosquito | Spreads | Bites | Breeds in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aedes (tiger mosquito, with striped legs) | Dengue and chikungunya | In the daytime, indoors and near homes | Water kept in containers in and around homes |
| Anopheles | Malaria | Especially in the late evening and at night | Stagnant or slow-flowing water |
Aedes numbers rise in the monsoon and the weeks after it. Mosquitoes can bite at any hour, so protect yourself all day and all night.
Stop mosquitoes breeding at home
A mosquito can grow from egg to adult in about a week. Aedes eggs can survive drying for months and hatch when water returns. So do not leave water standing for more than a week, and scrub containers rather than just emptying them.
- Desert coolers: empty, scrub and dry them every week before refilling, and do not use last season's cooler grass again.
- Tanks, drums, buckets and earthen pots: keep them covered with well-fitting lids, and empty and scrub stored water every week.
- Flower vases, plant-pot saucers, bird baths and fridge trays: change the water every week.
- Old tyres, broken pots, coconut shells, plastic cups, bottles and cans: throw them away, or turn them over so that rain cannot collect in them.
- Terraces and overhead tanks: check them after rain, and keep the tanks covered.
- Puddles and ditches near the house, and around hand pumps: fill them with soil or drain them. Do not let water stagnate.
Make it a weekly habit, for example every Sunday, and ask your neighbours and building to do the same.
Protect your skin
Do
- Wear full-sleeved shirts and long trousers, with socks. Loose or thick cloth works better, because mosquitoes can bite through thin, tight cloth.
- Use a repellent on skin that is not covered. WHO names DEET, picaridin and IR3535. Follow the label and reapply as it says.
- If you use sunscreen, put it on first and the repellent after it.
- Dress children in clothes that cover their arms and legs, and cover a pram with mosquito netting.
- For a child, put repellent on your own hands first, then on the child, keeping it off their hands, eyes, mouth and any cuts.
Do not
- Do not put repellent under clothing, or on cuts or irritated skin.
- Do not use a repellent on a child without checking the label for the age it is meant for. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about babies.
Indoors, screens and nets
- Fit wire mesh or screens on doors and windows, and mend any holes.
- A closed, screened or air-conditioned room keeps most mosquitoes out.
- Aedes bites in the day, so a child, an older person or anyone with a fever who sleeps in the daytime should sleep under a net.
- At night, sleep under a mosquito net where malaria is a worry, ideally an insecticide-treated one. It is a barrier, and it also kills mosquitoes that land on it.
When to see a doctor
Dengue and malaria both begin with fever, headache and body pain, and they can look alike. A fever with shivering needs a malaria test, which is done with a rapid test or a blood smear. See a doctor for a fever, say that you have been bitten, and ask for the right test. Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol can ease pain and fever. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen-type painkillers until a doctor has ruled out dengue.
Myths and facts
Things people often say about this. Open each one to see what is true.
Myth“Mosquitoes breed only in dirty drains and garbage.”What is true?
Fact
Dengue mosquitoes breed in water that collects in containers around homes, such as coolers, tanks, tyres and pots. Malaria mosquitoes breed in stagnant or slow-flowing water. A cooler left unemptied for a week can breed mosquitoes.
Myth“Mosquitoes bite only at night, so I need protection only after dark.”What is true?
Fact
The mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya bite in the daytime. Cover your skin and use a repellent by day as well, and let anyone who sleeps in the daytime sleep under a net.
Common questions
How often should I clean the desert cooler?
Every week. Empty it, scrub it and let it dry before you refill it, and do not use last season's grass pads again. Cover water tanks and drums with well-fitting lids as well.
Which mosquito repellent should I use?
WHO names repellents containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535. Follow the label, reapply as it says, and put sunscreen on first. Do not use repellent on cuts, and keep it off a child's hands, eyes and mouth.
Will a mosquito net protect me from dengue?
Only while you are under it. Aedes mosquitoes bite in the day, so a net mainly protects people who sleep in the daytime, and anyone with a fever should use one. For the rest of the day, cover your skin, use a repellent and remove the water where mosquitoes breed.
Do I still need a net in a screened or air-conditioned room?
A closed room with screens in good repair, or air conditioning, keeps most mosquitoes out. A net adds protection if windows are open, the screens have holes, or you sleep during the day.