Come monsoons and everyone likes to enjoy the rain and beat the heat. But one also tends to have an increased risk of infections. This is the time when water coolers, potholes, stagnant water harbor mosquitoes. Mosquitoes thrive in hot weather, and stagnant water supports their breeding.
Mosquitoes harbor infectious agents such as dengue, malaria, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and Japanese encephalitis. And these infections can be fatal, especially since some of them do not have suitable treatments yet. Prevention is better than cure.
Therefore, as the season transitions from summers to monsoon, the number of mosquitoes increases. Therefore, one should step up preventive measures around this season.
- Wear long trousers and shirts with full sleeves and use mosquito repellent.
- Application of aerosols with chemical agents to keep away mosquitoes.
- Fumigation of mosquitoes. The fumigation can be aerial spraying or ground-based fogging. The chemical agent used may act against adults or larvae.
- Fogging in open areas of locality, garage, corridors, waiting areas can be useful in controlling adult mosquitoes. Fogging coolers by dispersing insecticides in a fine mist or a fog that covers the area.
- Inspect potential breeding sites – areas where water may collect. Any stagnant water should be removed as soon as possible. Anti-larvae chemicals should be sprayed. Keep lawns and bushes well trimmed.
- Use mosquito nets and screens to keep mosquitoes away.
Never neglect the symptoms, especially fever. If treated early, these monsoon infections, especially malaria and dengue, can be stopped from causing complications like brain infections.
