Contents:
- Medical Video: What You Need to Know About Zika Virus | Pregnancy and Sexual Transmission
- 1. Use standardized mosquito repellent
- 2. Apply mosquito repellent correctly
- 3. Covered clothes
- 4. Be careful with standing water
- 5. Bathe cleanly
Medical Video: What You Need to Know About Zika Virus | Pregnancy and Sexual Transmission
The Zika virus is a disease carried by the Aedes mosquito, the same mosquito species also spreads the Dengue or Cikungunya virus. This Aedes mosquito is usually very active during the day, when you are also actively doing activities. So that, during activities during the day, including when you are traveling to an area you need to be careful with this mosquito. How do you prevent Zika virus when traveling?
1. Use standardized mosquito repellent
The safest way to prevent Zika virus is to use mosquito repellent. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States recommends using mosquito repellent products with active ingredients containing DEET, or picaridin, IR 3535, 2-undecanone, and one natural product of lemon eucalyptus oil.
Other natural products such as cepscian, citronella, geraniol, garlic, and lemongrass, do not have the effect of repelling mosquitoes or are only effective for less than 30 minutes. To be safe, use a product that has been clinically tested.
DEET is one of the most standard for insect repellent, according to Musthapa Debboun, Ph.D. a director of the mosquito control division at a public health and disease control agency in Houston.
Although the long-term effects of DEET have not been studied further, a 2014 study in the journal Parasites and Vectors found no evidence of negative side effects. This study looked at the effect of DEET on pregnant women in the first trimester. Some pregnant women use DEET in one group, while one other group is not given DEET. Six months after giving birth, the baby girl between the two groups did not show different differences in nerve function, weight, height, head size, or hand size.
2. Apply mosquito repellent correctly
Moment traveling, You may often use sunscreen. To prevent the bite of the Aedes mosquito carrying the zika virus, use mosquito repellent after applying sunscreen on the skin. If not, SPF can cover the effectiveness of mosquito repellent.
Don't forget to always apply on the legs and ankles. Zika virus-carrying mosquitoes have special appeal to the legs.
To protect children, spray or pour mosquito repellent onto your hands first before rubbing it on the child's skin. Avoid the children's eyes and mouth, and also apply to the area around the ear.
Do not use mosquito repellent which has a concentration of DEET above 30 percent or higher for children.
Lemon eucalyptus oil should not be used for children less than 3 years old. Any insect repellent should also not be given to children aged less than 2 months, you should protect it with a mosquito net.
Follow the instructions for the product in its use how often it can be used. Usually mosquito repellent does not need to be applied as often as sunscreen. Reported on the Zika Foundation page, apply repellent mosquito repellent after the next 6-8 hours.
3. Covered clothes
If you are traveling to a hot area and potentially have many Aedes mosquitoes, you should use closed clothing to prevent Zika virus from mosquito bites.
Use long pants and long sleeves. Because the Aedes mosquito is more interested in the legs, then use closed shoes with socks to make it safer, not using open sandals. Also, protect your head with a hat. Mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus prefer to choose parts:
- 15 percent of the Aedes mosquito carrying the Zika virus will attack the upper, back of the head, neck or shoulders.
- 25 percent attack the upper part of the foot and lower hand.
- 60 percent will attack the foot from the knee down.
4. Be careful with standing water
With just one spoonful of water, the Aedes mosquito can breed to produce 300 more mosquitoes. So, be careful with even the smallest puddles of water. Mosquitoes can breed at the bottom of the glasses in the bathroom to put toothbrushes, or in sink water puddles, and other places that make water pool.
Then that, when traveling and will stay overnight, pay attention to the surrounding conditions. Eliminate puddles in all corners of your stay.
If there is a swimming pool, you do not need to worry because chlorine in the pool water is able to prevent mosquitoes from developing, so the pool remains clean and safe for swimming.
5. Bathe cleanly
You can do the most simple way to prevent Zika virus when taking a shower. When bathing, use unscented soap to reduce skin bacteria that attract Aedes mosquitoes. Bathing regularly too, don't take too long to take a shower.
This aims to avoid the accumulation of bacteria on the skin. The bacteria that make bad body odor are the main bait for mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus.
