Dengue fever is a serious viral disease transmitted by the bite of Aedes albopictus mosquito. The Aedes mosquito mainly bites during the daytime, however only female mosquitoes bite humans, as they need proteins to develop eggs. The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. It causes an illness that can resemble flu. Dengue can be managed at home, however, it can become very severe.
To prevent or diagnose whether you may have dengue, here are a few useful tips!
To Prevent:
1. Wear protective clothing when outside: long-sleeved shirts and pants
2. Use a mosquito repellant containing DEET or lemon eucalyptus oil
3. During the early hours before the sunrise, and the evening before the sun sets, be sure to keep all doors and windows closed
4. Stay away from water bodies where mosquitos can breed: water in flower pots, ponds, etc.
To Diagnose:
1. High fever with chills, temperature goes up to 102 to 103 degrees causing discomfort.
2. Severe headache
3. Behind the eye pain and reddened eyes
4. Severe joint and muscle pain
5. Nausea and vomiting
6. Sore throat
Stay safe while traveling!