Dengue Could Risk 6 Billion Lives by 2080 Says Study: How to Prevent Mosquito Bites this Monsoon
Billions of lives are at stake due to dengue fever in the years to come.
Dengue may have far-reaching effects on health in the coming decades according to the findings of a new study. The mosquito-borne disease could claim more than six million lives by 2080 says a study published in the journal Nature Microbiology. Researchers say that 2.25 billion more people will be affected by dengue in 2080 as compared to 2015. The changing climate is said to play a big part in the spread of the dengue contagion. With the arrival of monsoons, countries like India are already gearing up to battle the disease head-on. The weather conditions are favourable for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito during the monsoons since rainfall provides more ground for the insects to lay eggs. With the spike in dengue cases in metros like Delhi, experts and doctors have been advising people to take precautions against the disease. Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention Against the Deadly Disease.
Dengue fever causes flu-like illness characterised by fever, severe headaches, severe joint pain, pain behind the eyes, fatigue, nausea, skin rash, vomiting and malaise. Here’s how you can stay protected from dengue: Dengue Fever: Why Some People Are More Prone To This Vector-Borne Disease Than The Others? Expert Speaks.
How to Avoid Getting Bitten By Mosquitoes
• Wear full-sleeved shirts and ankle-length pants to protect your extremities from mosquito bites.
• Be wary of mosquito bites in the early hours of the day. Aedes Aegypti is known to bite during daylight.
• Stagnant water breeding spots should be cleared or treated with pesticides to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
• Watch out for spots such as air conditioner drip trays, tree stumps, trash cans, pools, birdbaths, old tires, mud pots and gutters where water can collect and breed mosquitoes.
• Apply mosquito repellents on exposed parts of the body.
• Sleep under mosquito nets treated with repellents in areas where there are mosquitoes.
• Wear light-coloured clothes outdoors because dark-coloured clothes can attract mosquitoes.
• Use natural mosquito repellents like citronella, eucalyptus and lemon oil inside the house to ward off the insects.
Dengue can turn life-threatening if proper measures are not taken in the nick of time. The best bet against dengue is prevention. If the symptoms of dengue are seen, approach the doctor at the earliest without trying to self-medicate.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 12, 2019 02:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).