Prevention of malaria is of paramount importance because it can be severe and, in worse cases, lead to coma and death. Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes; therefore, most ways involve protecting oneself against bites.
You should figure out whether you are in danger of contracting malaria where you live or in any locality you plan to travel to. Once you identify any threat, you should carry out the following preventive measures;
Use of antimalarial drugs
If you are planning to travel to a locality where you will be exposed to the danger of contracting malaria, it would be best to get antimalarial drugs in the form of tablets. The tablets help you reduce the chances of getting malaria.
It would be best if you did not neglect other preventive measures, even after taking the drugs, because they do not guarantee safety. It would be best to seek the right medication from a healthcare provider, even though some drugs are available over the counter.
A healthcare provider can prescribe the right drug by considering your medical history, age, pregnancy, and the duration of your stay in that destination.
Mosquito control
As said before, mosquitoes are the vectors responsible for the spread of malaria. You need not worry about contracting the disease if you can effectively protect yourself from mosquitoes and control them. Mosquito control measures include;
Use of insect repellents
Insect repellents tend to eliminate mosquitos, and some are applied to the skin. It is essential to choose an effective mosquito repellent. The recommended repellent has 20-35% percent of N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)
Other natural methods help repel mosquitoes, such as camphor oil, ginger, dry ice, and lavender oil, and you can opt to use them.
VC coating
A clear paint-like coating that you can apply in your home helps kill mosquitoes. Using VC coating is also good for the environment and cannot ruin your stay at home because it does not release toxic chemicals.
It is a product created by an excellent company, Vectorcide International Ltd, that uses the latest technology and incorporates necessary safety measures.
Taking care of stagnant water
Stagnant water is a home for many mosquitoes and a breeding site for them. You need to deal with such water to prevent attacks from these vectors. You can use pesticides, such as VC larvicide, to prevent mosquitoes from leaving the breeding site. Remove stagnant water, and keep only the fresh, moving water on your compound.
Other measures you can adopt;
- Wear long-sleeved clothes and long pants to cover your skin.
- Air conditioning your house, and putting window screens.
- You can use an intact mosquito net for extra protection at night.
Bottom Line
Protecting yourself against mosquito bites is a crucial way of preventing malaria. There are other ways to keep yourself safe, and you should employ them because prevention is always better than cure.
