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Protecting yourself and family from the Chikungunya Virus
(From the Desk of the Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman)
Chikungunya is transmitted by a mosquito (Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus) which has also been
Dr Reyaud Rahman
infected by the virus. For this reason it is necessary to protect yourself from the bite of mosquitoes to prevent contracting the virus. There are many ways an individual can protect himself or herself from getting Chikungunya.
Since there is no anti-viral medication or any vaccine to prevent this disease, it should be noted that our immune system is the best fighter of this disease once it is contracted. There are a few things individuals can do to strengthen their immune system such as eating fruits, vegetables, minimize stress levels, exercise, sleep, and socialize. These are some of the basic things which can be done easily to strengthen our immune system.
Individuals using repellents are advised to use repellents containing DEET (diethylmetatoluamide). This blocks the mosquito’s ability to find you and prevents you from being bitten. The higher the concentration of DEET the longer an individual is protected. A concentration of 10 percent will protect you for roughly two (2) hours. Please note that these are chemicals and can be toxic. For this reason it is essential to only use repellents when you may be at risk of being bitten by mosquitoes. It is strongly recommended that repellents should not be used on the hands of young children, especially those younger than two (2) months old.
Wearing clothing that is long and light-coloured will further protect you from being bitten by mosquitoes. Individuals should ensure that they wear long-sleeved shirts, socks, long pants and for added protection, tuck the pants into the socks. Light-coloured clothing is recommended as mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothing.
Persons can also use an insecticidal-treated net or a regular mosquito net to sleep under, while in other exposed areas, repellent can be used.
It is essential to also ensure that breeding sites are eliminated from your direct surroundings. These can be small or large containers in your yard which hold water when it rains. If they are not covered, mosquitoes will lay eggs and later become adult mosquitoes which have the potential of transmitting the Chikungunya virus.
Flowerpots that are empty should be turned over to prevent water from collecting, or the black tanks that hold water that we use for our daily use (sometimes these tanks are not closed and therefore allow mosquitoes to freely breed), containers that we store rain water in are most of the time not covered, and of course, old tyres – these are all perfect breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
It is recommended that all containers which hold water that are not being used be emptied. Added to this, if it is necessary to use the water, ensure that the container is covered. Also ensure that no hole or opening is on the container or tank. This will allow the mosquito to enter the container and lay its eggs comfortably inside.
These are some of the preventative methods that can be practiced to effectively eliminate and reduce mosquito breeding sites, nuisance and disease progression.
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