Protect Yourself From Insect Bites While Travelling

Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by lush greenery, lived a young traveller named Rajender. Rajender was an adventurous soul, always seeking new experiences and in search of hidden gems around the world.

One day, Rajender stumbled upon an enticing brochure about a tropical paradise called Sunlandia. Excitement took over, and without a second thought, he decided to embark on a journey to this beautiful destination. As Rajender began preparing for the trip, a concerned friend raised her worries about dengue fever, a common mosquito-borne illness in tropical regions. She being a medical practitioner, shared the importance of taking preventive measures to avoid contracting this disease. Rajender listened attentively and was determined to stay safe while exploring Sunlandia.

Rajender’s adventure to Sunlandia might be an imaginary fairy tale, but the threat of diseases caused by mosquitoes and insect bites while travelling to tropical areas, wildlife or rainforests, etc is far from unreal. More often than not, we tend to ignore this danger and don’t take proper measures and end up suffering not to mention a messed up trip.

According to WHO sources in the recent past :

The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, with cases reported to WHO increasing from 505 430 cases in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019. A vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are under-reported. Many cases are also misdiagnosed as other febrile illnesses . One modelling estimate indicates 390 million dengue virus infections per year of which 96 million manifest clinically. Another study on the prevalence of dengue estimates that 3.9 billion people are at risk of infection with dengue viruses. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in the WHO Regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. The Americas, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected, with Asia representing around 70% of the global disease burden.

In India, in 2022 alone, over 233 251 cases were reported from 35 states. The neighboring country of Bangladesh is also witnessing a surge in dengue cases linked to a more extended transmission season from prolonged rain and flooding.

Dr. Vikram Vora, Medical Director, Indian Subcontinent at International SOS, said, “Widespread awareness of the disease and its prevention is critical in minimizing the impact of dengue on individuals and communities. Although most of those infected are likely to have mild symptoms, some people can receive hospitalization, and fatalities are common. The risk of severe dengue is higher in people with past dengue infections. Dengue is primarily prevented by avoiding mosquito bites. Although a vaccine against dengue is available in some countries, it is not yet approved for use in India. 2 vaccines are currently undergoing clinical trials; still, for now, prevention remains the best strategy against dengue.

Organizations are recommended to conduct dengue risk and impact assessments of their locations of operation and the places their employees travel to. Mitigation measures include education and awareness campaigns, keeping premises free of potential mosquito-breeding areas, providing access to mosquito-bite prevention supplies, and ensuring that their traveling workforce undergoes pre-deployment health assessments.”

Following a few basic precautions as suggested by experts can do a lot of difference when it comes to your safe trip to those beautiful corners of the world :

Pack and wear suitable clothing: Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to cover as much skin as possible. This provided a physical barrier against mosquito bites, reducing the chances of getting infected.
Apply mosquito repellent: Carry a quality mosquito repellent containing DEET and applied it regularly. Pay special attention to exposed skin areas as mosquitoes often attacked those vulnerable spots.
Choose accommodation wisely: Select an accommodation that prioritized mosquito control measures, such as window screens, bed nets, and mosquito-proof doors. This ensured a safe and peaceful sleep amidst the tropical nights.
Avoid mosquito breeding sites: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. So, whenever you spot standing water around the accommodation or during outdoor activities, alert the staff to eliminate the breeding grounds promptly.
Time activities wisely: Mosquitoes, particularly the dengue-carrying ones, were most active during daytime and dawn.
Stay informed about dengue: Stay updated on the latest dengue news and local advisories.