Travelling and Mosquitoes
We find mosquitoes everywhere in the world, except Antarctica. We consider them the most dangerous animal on Planet Earth. Avoid mosquitoes wherever possible when travelling and sidestep infectious diseases.
Avoid the Bite and Keep Safe from Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Mosquito distribution is worldwide. They are tenacious and can survive in all climatic conditions. This makes them number 1 for spreading life-threatening diseases in animals and humans. There are over 2,500 species throughout the world.
Infected mosquitoes spread disease. They are the primary vectors of malaria, zika virus, dengue fever, and yellow fever. There are other diseases they spread among animals and humans. Many are fatal or cause other complications.
Over 50% of the world’s population is at risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases from infected vector mosquitoes.
Mosquito Biology
Mosquitoes are ectoparasites. Typical physical characters include slender bodies and elongated legs.
Their mouthparts are tube-like. Males feed on the juices and nectar of plants and flowers. The females need blood meals for reproduction.
They belong to the Culicidae family, which is the most dangerous species in the animal world. The reason is they transmit deadly disease.
How Dangerous Mosquito-Borne Diseases Spread
Male mosquitoes are harmless. The females are a different matter. They need blood for their eggs. Mosquitoes cannot bite. The reason is they do not actually have teeth. They have a proboscis to pierce the skin of animals and humans.
They use the proboscis to suck blood once they pierce the skin. They transmit diseases during feeding. Female mosquitoes transfer viruses and parasites to the host during feeding. Females transmit diseases from an infected host causing secondary host infections.
Mosquito-borne diseases are malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. Other diseases include the West Nile Virus, Zika virus, and Chikungunya virus. Mosquito-borne diseases cause hundreds of thousands of vector-borne diseases each year.
Getting to Know One of the Most Common Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Malaria
Malaria is one of the most common and dangerous human diseases mosquitoes spread. Only specific mosquito species carry malaria, and only some places are considered an endemic location. You can check if your destination location is endemic before travelling there.
An effective repellent can help you stay safer, but it is recommended that more precautions be taken in endemic countries, such as antimalarial medicine. The infectious period of malaria can last up to a month, and symptoms can set in up to a year after the initial infection. It’s best to avoid getting bitten altogether.
According to WHO, there were approximately 241 million malaria cases in 2020. There were 627,000 malaria deaths worldwide. This is about 14 million more cases in and 69,000 more deaths in 2020 compared to 2019.
How Malaria Infects Humans
Infectious vectors cause malaria through the plasmodium parasite, one of the mosquito-borne pathogens. Parasites cause malaria by entering the bloodstream of a victim once bitten. The parasite then makes its way to the liver.
Once the parasite matures, it attacks the red blood cells and multiplies. The infected cells open. They then give birth to more parasites. The multiplied parasites attack more red blood cells.
Symptoms of Malaria
Symptoms include shaking chills, loss of appetite, and nausea. Other symptoms include bloody stools and fever.
It is important to contact your health care provider if you experience any of the below symptoms. Untreated malaria could prove fatal. At present, there is no available malaria vaccine, but you can treat malaria with medication in the hospital.
Most Common Malaria Locations in Africa
| Rank | Country | Reported Malaria Cases | Reported Deaths |
| 1 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 4,561,981 | 23,748 |
| 2 | Liberia | 1,915,762 | 1,422 |
| 3 | United Republic of Tanzania | 1,845,917 | 840 |
| 4 | Mozambique | 1,756,874 | 3,086 |
| 5 | Angola | 1,632,282 | 6,909 |
| 6 | Burundi | 1,571,874 | 2,233 |
| 7 | Ethiopia | 1,480,306 | 936 |
| 8 | India | 1,310,367 | 753 |
| 9 | Ghana | 1,041,260 | 3,259 |
| 10 | Kenya | 1,002,805 | 713 |
6 Clever Ways to Avoid the Bite When Travelling
Your top priority when travelling should be your health. Avoid malarial hotspots wherever possible. Mosquitoes cause hundreds and thousands of deaths each year.
1. Avoid Mosquito Populations Wherever Possible
Get smart when planning your itinerary. Find out the best times of the year for travelling to malarial hotspots. This is the best way to avoid mosquito borne infections.
Plan your trip around mosquito breeding seasons wherever possible. Visit the World Health Organisation’s website for important information. Find out everything you can when travelling during the summer months.
2. Wear Long Sleeves and Socks to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Long-sleeved cotton clothing is your best clothing option. Shorts are not a great idea if you want to avoid an infected mosquito biting you.
Instead, wear cool long pants and socks to cover ankles. Wearing light colours instead of dark colours is another deterrent, since mosquitoes can be attracted to dark and vivid colours.
3. Avoid Mosquito Hotspots for Travel Where Possible
Choosing countries with low mosquito activity is another option. Iceland, Antarctica, French Polynesia, and the Seychelles are mosquito-free spots.
4. Are DEET Products the Best Products for You?
We use DEET products to keep mozzies in check. DEET products contain chemicals and are not always the healthiest option. They contain N-diethyl-meta-toluamide.
Find out the level of protection of these products and side effects before spraying everything liberally. Natural is best, and everyone over the age of 18 months can safely use natural repellents.
Mozzie Patches are natural and last for up to 36 hours. They are waterproof and effective for travelling anywhere.
5. A Mosquito Net Is a Great Option for Keeping Mozzies Out
Mosquito nets for babies are the best option for preventing bites. Spray nets and clothing with natural repellent products to ward off bugs. This should give you a couple of hours of protection. Remember to secure the bottom and the sides of the net.
6. Keeping Cool is Better than Hot and Sticky
Keeping cool gives you an enhanced duration of protection. Hot and sticky bodies attract mosquitoes. As your body temperature rises, so does mosquito activity.
Receptors in Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes detect lactic acids. They also detect other chemical compounds in perspiration. Mosquitoes use many neuro receptors to source their blood meal.
Prevent Mosquito Bites With 100% Natural Mozzie Patches
No matter where you plan your next trip, be sure to pack Mozzie Patches in your luggage. This is a great way to avoid bites and prevent vector-bearing diseases. Preventative measure keeps everyone bug-free. Mozzie Patches ensure you travel without the buzz.
Shop all-natural Vitamin B1 Mozzie Patches. Do this for an effective, healthy way to prevent bites. Bite-free is the best way to travel anywhere in the world.
