Depending upon your situation you may not be able to, or may not want to take anti-malarial medication. For example, it is not advisable to take anti-malarial drugs for a long period of time so if you are living or traveling in a malaria affected area for a long time you may need to consider other methods of protection. Even if you are taking anti-malarials, remember that they do not prevent you from contracting malaria, but they should lessen the severity of the disease if you do happen to contract it.
Being bitten by a mosquito is the way in which malaria is contracted. Therefore, if you reduce the risk of being bitten then you will reduce the risk of contracting malaria.
These strategies are ways to reduce the likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes. They generally fall into the following broad categories:
- Killing the mosquitoes
- Preventing mosquitoes from reaching your skin
- Repelling the mosquitoes
Killing the Mosquitoes
1) Mosquito Racket
These can be purchased for about $US5 in many parts of Asia and provide a fun way of killing mosquitoes. They have an appearance similar to a tennis racket, however, instead of string going across the head of the racket there is a metal mesh, through which electric current flows when you press the on button, located on the racket handle. They are rechargeable by plugging into a power socket. When a mosquito has the misfortune to come into contact with the mesh it will get an electric shock sufficient enough to kill it. You will hear a satisfying zap sound from the racket when the mosquito is electrocuted to death. Don’t feel guilty; it could be a case of them or you.
2) More Primitive Options
Clapping your hands together to kill the mosquito is an old favourite and it is possible to become quite skilled at this, though it can be tiring and time consuming. Fly swatters could also be of some limited use, but rely on the mosquito being close to a hard object, such as a wall.
3) Creatures That Eat Mosquitoes
Be grateful for any spiders, geckos, or lizard type creatures that you might find in your room, or close by. They should do you no harm and may manage to catch and eat the odd mosquito for you. Similarly spiders’ webs should be left intact. Try not to destroy these if tidying your room.
Preventing the Mosquitoes from Reaching Your Skin
4) Covering Up Your Skin With Clothes
A mosquito is unable to bite you through clothing, so wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers (pants) will reduce the risk of getting bitten. You could go one stage further and tuck your trousers into your socks if you are in a place where it doesn’t matter what you look like. If you are particularly worried you could wear a balaclava. If you are a Muslim try to ensure that your wife is wearing the full burka for maximum protection.
5) Mosquito Nets
Ensure that these are tucked in, or touching the floor all around the bed and hopefully don’t have any rips. They should ideally be impregnated with an insecticide. If sleeping indoors the net should be hung from the walls or roof above the bed. If sleeping outdoors the net should be hung from a tree or from sticks at each corner of the net. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that nets are re-treated with insecticide after three washes or at least once a year.
6) Close Windows
This may not be desirable during the daytime, but closing windows before dusk and keeping them closed during the night would be a good idea.
Repelling the Mosquitoes
7) Mosquito Coils
These should contain an active ingredient. They burn slowly for around 8 hours, but you should ensure that you are in a well-ventilated place or are using them outdoors.
The active ingredient can be a pyrethrum (from a chrysanthemum plant), pyrethrin (extract of the insecticidal element of pyrethrum) or pyrethroid (a synthetic equivalent such as allethrin or esbiothrin)
8) Mosquito Cream or Spray
These can even be purchased including only natural ingredients.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informs that products containing DEET, Picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus and IR3535 typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection. Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or PMD (chemical name: para-menthane-3,8-diol), the synthesized version of OLE and IR3535, are derived from natural materials.
9) Mosquito Patches
These are like stickers that gradually omit a citronella scent that mosquitoes are supposed not to like.
10) Fans and Air-Conditioning
Having a fan turned on will make it harder for mosquitoes to fly around. A lower temperature also deters mosquitoes.
Sources and Further Information
World Health Organisation: Malaria
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protection against Mosquitoes, Ticks & Other Insects & Arthropods
Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department: Pest Control Newsletter issue No. 14 April 2009
Britannica and Co: Mosquito Coil
Richard Milnes - Richard was born in London, England, but has since spent much of his life travelling the world and has visited nearly 50 ...
Join the Conversation