Avoiding bug bites
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has highlighted the importance of avoiding bug bites for travellers, as insects the likes of mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and some flies, can spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme.
All of these diseases can lead to severe and lasting consequences and, it’s true what that say, prevention is better than cure. To reduce the risk of being bitten, travellers can use EPA-registered insect repellants and cover their skin by wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers.
Dengue and Zika are both spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, and as there is no vaccine or treatment for these diseases, it is important that they are prevented. Malaria is also spread by mosquitos and is particularly dangerous for pregnant women as the parasites can be transmitted to the unborn child.
The CDC advises all travellers to check their destination before travelling so that they are aware of the health risks and can find out about vaccines, medicines and advice that can help them to prevent bug-bite diseases.