Prevention Of Dengue Fever

There is no vaccine to prevent dengue. The best way to prevent getting the disease is to avoid being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Avoid being bitten by a mosquito by:

using insect repellent to avoid being bitten, especially around dawn and dusk – products containing N-diethylmetatoluamide (DEET) are effective, but products containing this ingredient should not be used in babies younger than two months and in lower concentrations in younger children (20-30% DEET)
wearing loose-fitting but protective clothing – mosquitoes are able to bite through tight-fitting clothes; trousers, long-sleeved shirts, and socks and shoes (not sandals) are ideal
sleeping under a mosquito net to avoid being bitten at night

be aware of your environment – mosquitoes that cause dengue breed in standing water in crowded urban environments; this can range from communal toilets to water that gathers inside a stack of old tyres.
Ticks are small arachnids that are mainly found in woodland areas. They attach to your skin, suck your blood and can cause Lyme disease.


The best ways to avoid ticks include:


being aware of ticks and the type of habitats where ticks usually live
wearing appropriate clothing in tick-infested areas (a long-sleeve shirt and trousers tucked into your socks)

wearing light-coloured fabrics to help you spot a tick on your clothes
using insect repellents.

inspecting your skin for ticks, particularly at the end of the day, including your head, neck and skin folds (armpits, groin, and waistband),

checking your children's head and neck areas, including their scalp
making sure ticks aren't brought home on your clothes
checking that pets don't bring ticks indoors on their fur.

It's also important to remove any ticks you find as soon as possible. Find out how to safely remove a tick.


Avoids The Bites Sitting:


move away slowly and don't panic if you encounter wasps, hornets or bees – don't wave your arms around or swat at them
cover exposed skin – if you're outside at a time of day when insects are particularly active, such as sunrise or sunset, cover your skin by wearing long sleeves and trousers
wear shoes when outdoors
apply insect repellent to exposed areas of skin, particularly in summer or early autumn, when stings are most likely to occur – repellents that contain diethyltoluamide (DEET) are most effective
avoid using products with strong perfumes, such as soaps, shampoos and deodorants – they can attract insects
keep food and drink covered when eating or drinking outside, particularly sweet things – wasps or bees can also get into open drink bottles or cans you're drinking from
keep doors and windows closed or put thin netting or door beads over them to prevent insects getting inside the house – also keep the windows of your car closed to stop insects getting inside.
avoid flowering plants, outdoor areas where food is served, rubbish and compost – regularly and carefully remove any fallen fruit in your garden and keep a well-fitting lid on dustbins
never disturb insect nests – wasps build nests in sheltered areas such as trees and roof spaces; if a nest is in or near your house, arrange to have it removed (see the GOV.UK website for details about pest control services and how your local council can help) 

avoid camping near water, such as ponds and swamps – mosquitoes and horseflies are commonly found near water

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