(This article was originally published on medium.com) We have accepted the new norm that we are facing the threat of the COVID virus every day since the outbreak. While defending ourselves against the virus, what we did not notice is that there is another silent threat probably forgotten but still prevalent in Singapore: dengue fever. In case you are not familiar with what is dengue fever, dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infective mosquito. In a sunny and humid country like Singapore, dengue fever is not unfamiliar to us but there is a recent spike in new cases that can be a potentially worrying trend. However, that does not mean we cannot take steps to protect myself from mosquitoes coming near me or breeding in my house. Trust me, there are periods that when I am at home chilling, more than 10 mosquitoes will swarm over like bees trying to get a piece of me. As such, I have been embarking a quest to search for the most effective way to be mosquito-free. One major reason is that I do not want to get dengue fever again. (Yes, I have contracted dengue fever before and recovered.) My recovery process was a pain; hence I do freak out when I see mosquitoes or red swollen bites on my legs. In the earlier days, I had the misconception that buying the most effective mosquito repellent available in the market can save me. Sadly, that did not work, at all. Identify what is cause and what you can do to repel mosquitoes indoors and outdoors I then found out that there are a lot of factors why mosquitoes like me so much. It can be due to these reasons: my warm body temperature, my tendency to sweat a lot and the carbon dioxide that I breathe out made me a popular bite target. Luckily, all hope is not lost. Here I have 3 ways that I have used so far to prevent and lessen my chances of getting bitten indoors and outdoors: 1. Wipe yourself using body wipes or take a cold shower before heading out. It is impossible not to sweat or having a higher body temperature during the day in sunny Singapore. Therefore, cleaning yourself using body wipes can remove any bacteria that is present on your skin. Moreover, having a cold shower can lower your body temperature and removing any bacteria and germs that are on your skin. Having a cleansed skin and lower body temperature will reduce the chances of you as a target for mosquito bites. Although this is only a temporary solution that can last for about an hour to two hours, I find that my skin will adjust itself to defend from itchy nasty bites from mosquitoes. 2. Using an essential oil diffuser in your home can repel mosquitoes By diffusing essential oil, the molecules of the oils are broken down and dispersed at wider areas through water droplets into the air. Some mosquito plants essential oil like citronella and lemongrass can effectively repel mosquitoes. The scent from these plants will mask the carbon dioxide that we emit and the lactic acid scents that mosquitoes are searching for. Simply place three to 10 drops of lemongrass essential oils or citronella essential oils to the water of your diffuser. Depending on the strength of the scent, you may want to adjust based on the area that you want to use your diffuser. You can experiment with the essential oil amounts and the duration of the diffusing process to see what you prefer. 3. Adding a small squirt of dish soap into stagnant water at your home will kill off mosquito larvae There can be areas in our house that will accumulate stagnant water that you are unable to remove timely or at a location that you are unable to clean it. To stop the breeding of mosquito larvae, squirt a small amount of dish soap into the stagnant water. The reason being the disinfecting properties of dish soap can disrupt the water surface tension, making mosquito repellents unable to land on water and forcing breeding larvae to die without oxygen. Conclusion So instead of letting mosquitoes to have their way disrupting our lives by swarming around us or transmitting diseases through mosquito bites, adopt small changes in our habits. It can protect not just yourself but also your loved ones and mosquito-proof your home. Getting started will mean lower chances of getting bites or avoiding contracting dengue fever.
What will you do today to protect yourself? Will you want to try some of these ways suggested? What are some reasons that are holding you back?
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