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How to help prevent mosquito breeding sites

2023-04-03T15:25:52.670Z


There are different species of mosquitoes in our country, Aedes Aegypti being one of them. This mosquito could transmit diseases such as Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya or Yellow Fever, so it is essential to know how to help eradicate breeding sites and thus protect our homes.


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The presence of mosquitoes usually interferes with our daily activities, and from a health point of view, it is important to detect and empty containers that accumulate water, as they could become potential breeding grounds.

During the last years, the

Aedes Aegypti

mosquito has spread its presence in different regions of the country due to the following factors: disorderly growth of the population, accumulation of waste, storage of water in outdoor containers, climatic factors, as well as for the transfer of people and objects from one place to another.

Given this scenario, the recommendation to prevent its proliferation is to turn over containers that could contain standing water, such as tires, pot dishes, pet drinking fountains, and garbage containers.

Frequent changing of water in vases and turning buckets helps prevent mosquito breeding sites

It is known that females prefer to spawn in clean and stagnant water, mainly in and around houses, choosing shady and humid places.

For this reason, it is extremely important to detect breeding sites in our home and in our neighborhood.

Did you know that mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs in stagnant or still water, or in moist soil?

And that they only need a small amount of water to do it?

In fact, the immature stages of certain types of mosquitoes only need a tablespoon of water to reproduce to develop, an amount that can easily accumulate in containers such as buckets, old tires, children's pools, holes in trees, pet fountains, dishes under plants, even in a small bottle cap.

Dengue fever in the world

Dengue fever is caused by one of four related viruses that are transmitted by certain species of mosquitoes such as the

Aedes Aegypti

mosquito , which usually bites during the day.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 390 million people are infected each year with this disease and an estimated 3.9 billion people are at potential risk of contracting the dengue virus worldwide.

Mosquitoes bite us as most types of female mosquitoes need to ingest blood to develop eggs.

Only female mosquitoes feed on blood, while male mosquitoes feed on plant nectar.

The Aedes Aegypti is one of the mosquito species that causes dengue fever.

​Mosquitoes

use multiple signals to detect blood: the chemicals in our breath and breath, body heat, and even individual variation in body chemistry make some people more likely to attract mosquitoes than others.

How to recognize the Aedes Aegypti

mosquito

?

• It is small and has very visible white stripes on its body and legs.

• Although it can bite at any time of the day, it is usually most active during sunrise and sunset.

• It is a silent mosquito, different from the one that bites at night and has an annoying buzz.

• In our region it has a seasonal behavior and its abundance is greater between the months of December and May.

• Female mosquitoes need human blood to develop their eggs, so hatcheries are usually close to people's homes or workplaces.

• They breed in shady and humid places.

Dark places ensure the temperature and humidity for the development of their eggs.

It is important to empty animal drinkers and remove litter frequently

How to eradicate breeding sites

Among the actions that can be carried out to prevent mosquitoes from reproducing, the Ministry of Health recommends:

• Eliminate unused containers that can accumulate water (such as cans, bottles, tires).

• Turn over objects that are outside and can collect water when it rains (buckets, basins, bottles).

• Change the water in animal drinking troughs, air conditioning or rain drain collectors, inside and outside the house, every 3 days.

• Rub the walls of the containers with a sponge or brush in order to loosen any mosquito eggs that may be attached.

• Fill vases and pot holders with wet sand.

• Keep patios and gardens clean, tidy and weeded.

• Clean roof gutters and rain drains.

• Cover the tanks and containers used to collect water.

• Pour boiling water on the grids and put mosquito netting on them.

The importance of repellents

In addition to eradicating breeding sites, it is also important to prevent mosquito bites.

Repellents and insecticides are central to vector-borne disease prevention strategies, as they help prevent their bites.

The WHO in

Global Response for Vector Control 2017-2030

, recognizes the use of repellents for personal use and insecticides for the home as elements of proven efficacy in the control of diseases transmitted by vectors.

Humans are naturally attractive to mosquitoes: body heat, the lactic acid we give off when we sweat, and even the carbon dioxide we exhale all attract mosquitoes.

Insect repellents are designed to prevent mosquitoes from perching, climbing, or biting the skin as they contain active ingredients that interfere with the mosquito receptor and drive them away from people's skin.

What product to choose?

The type of product should be chosen based on consumer preferences, as well as the recommended age of each product.

There are different assets, being DEET and Icaridin, two of those recommended to effectively repel the

Aedes Aegypti

mosquito .

DEET

: is the common name for N,N-diethil-m-toluamide, the world's most recognized repellent, used since 1946. DEET does not kill mosquitoes, it deters and repels them if applied correctly .

Its use is appropriate in children older than 2 years as long as the product contains DEET in less than 10%.

Icaridin

- is the active ingredient in many insect repellents that are applied to the skin.

Icaridin repels and deters insects.

If applied correctly, it forms a vapor barrier on the skin's surface that deters mosquitoes from landing on it.

Generally this active is just as effective as DEET in the same concentration, and does not leave a greasy feeling on the skin.

The percentage of active in the repellent determines how long the protection lasts.

In accordance with the recommendations made by the National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT), adults should keep these products out of the reach of children, and when applying them to their skin, they should look for repellents according to their age. .

Before using it, especially in the case of babies, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Sources:


• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue


• Ministry of Health of the Nation, Argentina: https:// www.argentina.gob.ar/salud/glosario/dengue


​• ANMAT: http://www.anmat.gov.ar/Domisanitarios/repelentes.pdf

Source: clarin

All news articles on 2023-04-03

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