Monsoon is arguably one of the most beautiful and beneficial seasons in India. However, dengue-related cases generally go up during the monsoon, especially in some areas of Kolkata. With the onset of the monsoon season, it is also time to prepare your home against the menace of dengue.
With mosquito-borne diseases on the rise, it is important to ensure that there is no breeding ground for mosquitoes in and around your home. Besides cleaning the house daily, one should also adopt a weekly routine, of thoroughly cleaning all the corners in the house and outside, getting rid of accumulated water around your home.
What are the best ways to keep your family safe from dengue this monsoon? A few essential, simple tasks. Let’s check them out.
Don’t Give Mosquitoes a Breeding Ground
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. So, one should pay special attention to air-conditioner ducts, choked drains, overhead water tanks, trays beneath potted plants, small puddles in the tubs, water in broken toys or coconut shells, and check for any accumulated water. Garbage should never be kept open on your premises. Give special attention to flower vases and don’t forget to change the water regularly.
Inside the house, mosquitoes tend to hide underneath the cot, behind curtains, and dark corners. Besides using mosquito repellants, homeowners should regularly clean the home. To prevent mosquitoes from entering the house, you can also put up wire meshes on windows, and sleep within mosquito nets, especially at night.
It is vital to deep clean your home at regular intervals so as to clean all the cobwebs and clean all the hiding places of mosquitoes.
Eco-friendly Ways to Keep Mosquitoes away
- Use lemons and detergent mix to clean the house, as the scent of lemon serves as a mosquito repellent. Once a week, boil some leaves of lemongrass and ginger in two litre of water on low heat for over an hour. This helps in repelling the mosquitoes and removes bad odour from the house.
- Light a few pieces of camphor in a diffuser and shut the doors and windows for some time. This will keep the mosquitoes away, as camphor is an effective mosquito repellent.
- Neem oil can be burnt in candles, in lamps, and can also be used as a mosquito repellent body lotion, by mixing it with coconut oil.
- Tulsi plant has medicinal properties, which does not allow mosquitoes to enter your home.
- Add a few drops of citronella essential oil to a bucket of water that you use to mop the floor. You can also make a mosquito repellent at home, by adding this oil to water and keeping it in a plastic spray bottle. Store this bottle in a dark place, as sunlight speeds up the degradation of essential oils.
Prevent Dengue by Taking All Precautions
Preventive measures remain the most effective ways to avoid dengue. It is important to know some basic facts about dengue.
Dengue infection produces high fever, pain behind the eyes, severe headache, muscle, and joint pains, and vomiting in some cases. Almost 75% of the infected persons are asymptomatic, while 20% develop moderate symptoms. In about 5% of cases, dengue becomes severe and requires hospitalization.
During the monsoons, it is important to take some precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
- Wear full-sleeved dresses, full pants, trousers, or pajamas.
- Wear mosquito repellent creams, especially on exposed skin.
- Keep doors and windows closed in the evening and early morning. Mosquitoes mostly enter homes during this period.
- Use mosquito repellents coils, sprays in the early mornings as well as evenings.
- While sleeping, you must use a mosquito net to ensure a good night’s sleep without mosquito bites.
- Any incidence of fever should be immediately attended to by a doctor. Only a blood test can detect dengue. Early detection and treatment are extremely important, otherwise it may turn severe.
As we live in a tropical country, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue cannot be eradicated easily. The best way to prevent dengue is to adopt the above measures on an individual and community level.
