Table of contents:
- The characteristics of the dengue mosquito that you must be aware of
- 1. Types of dengue mosquitoes
- 2. The color and shape of the mosquito's body
- 3. Time to bite mosquitoes
- 4. The place where the dengue mosquitoes are reproduced
- 5. DHF mosquito larva pattern
- How is dengue transmitted?
- DHF transmission to fellow humans
- Prevent dengue mosquito bites in this way
- Prevent dengue mosquitoes from reproducing
Dengue fever is still one of the main public health problems in Indonesia. Especially when entering the rainy season, this disease begins to roam through mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus (dengue fever). The reason is, the dengue mosquitoes like areas of stagnant water which are their breeding grounds. So, what are the other characteristics of the mosquito that causes dengue fever?
The characteristics of the dengue mosquito that you must be aware of
Dengue hemorrhagic fever or DHF is a disease spread by mosquito bites. However, not just any mosquito can spread the dengue virus to the human body.
Therefore, you need to recognize what kind of appearance and behavior of the mosquitoes that are the culprits of this disease. In addition to being able to distinguish it from ordinary mosquitoes, you can also take precise steps to prevent dengue fever.
Here are the characteristics of the dengue mosquito that you can observe directly:
1. Types of dengue mosquitoes
Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus which is known to consist of four types of dengue viruses, including DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4.
In Indonesia itself, this virus is transmitted by two types of female dengue fever mosquitoes, namely Aedes aegypti as a primary virus carrier (main) and Aedes albopictus as a secondary virus carrier.
This type of dengue mosquito is anthropophilic, which means that they prefer to suck human blood. In addition, dengue mosquitoes are also common multiple feeding. In other words, to meet the blood needs to be full, these mosquitoes usually need to suck blood several times.
Character multiple feeding this is what can increase the risk of dengue transmission in densely populated residential areas. This is because a mosquito that carries the virus in one bite period will be able to transmit the virus to more than one person.
2. The color and shape of the mosquito's body
Another easy way to identify dengue mosquitoes is to look at their color and shape. If you find a mosquito with small, black characteristics with white stripes all over the body, it is certain that this is the characteristic of the dengue mosquito.
This mosquito has the ability to fly as high as 100 meters and as far as 400 meters, so that the range of transmission is quite far from its nesting sites.
3. Time to bite mosquitoes
The characteristic of dengue mosquitoes can be seen from the time of the bite. These mosquitoes bite actively in the morning to evening, most active two hours after sunrise and several hours before sunset.
DHF mosquitoes sometimes bite without your knowledge because they usually bite from behind your body and towards your ankles and elbows.
Even dengue fever mosquito bites are often painless, so you may not even notice when you are bitten.
4. The place where the dengue mosquitoes are reproduced
Mosquito Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus including the type of residential mosquito. So, these mosquitoes like a place or container for clear water to lay their eggs.
These places are not only indoors, as outdoor shelters can become breeding grounds and often go unnoticed.
In general, dengue mosquitoes like places that are slightly dark and humid. Mosquito Aedes aegypti more commonly found breeding in artificial water reservoirs, for example, bathtubs, buckets, flower vases, bird drinking containers, used cans, and similar places.
Meanwhile, mosquitoes Aedes albopictus more commonly found in natural water reservoirs outside the home, such as leaf armpits, tree holes, and bamboo cuttings.
If you have the habit of hanging clothes behind the door, you need to be careful because this pile of clothes is also a favorite place to hang out for dengue fever mosquitoes.
5. DHF mosquito larva pattern
In addition to knowing the characteristics of dengue fever mosquitoes, you also need to know which larvae are dengue fever mosquitoes.
When you check a bathtub or other shelter, dengue mosquito larvae usually move actively from the bottom up the surface of the water repeatedly.
So, if you find it, immediately drain your bathtub to prevent the breeding of dengue fever mosquitoes.
How is dengue transmitted?
As previously mentioned, dengue fever is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that carries the dengue virus.
When a dengue mosquito sucks someone's blood, it is very likely that the virus has been transmitted to the person who was bitten. The possibility of transmission will be even greater if the mosquito has sucked the blood of a person who has been infected with the dengue virus.
However, if the dengue mosquito has not carried the dengue virus and has bitten a healthy person, transmission will not occur. The person who was bitten earlier could have survived.
After being bitten and the virus enters the body, it usually takes about 3-14 days for the first dengue symptoms to appear.
DHF transmission to fellow humans
Is DHF transmitted to fellow humans? The answer is no. However, someone who has been infected with dengue can infect a healthy dengue fever mosquito, then transmit it indirectly when the mosquito bites another person.
The only way to transmit DHF between humans is through childbirth. According to the CDC website, pregnant women who are already infected with this disease can pass the virus to their babies, both during pregnancy and during childbirth.
Prevent dengue mosquito bites in this way
After knowing the characteristics of dengue fever mosquitoes, it's time for you to take precautions so you don't get bites from dengue fever mosquitoes. Well, here are some ways that you can follow as a precaution:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes during active times of the spread of dengue fever, namely in the morning and evening.
- Use a mosquito repellent lotion to avoid mosquito bites.
- Use a mosquito net on a bed or bassinet so that you and your family are protected from mosquito bites while sleeping.
Prevent dengue mosquitoes from reproducing
If you have tried the various methods above and you are still frequently bitten by mosquitoes, the only most effective way is of course to eradicate the mosquito nests.
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, here are 3M Plus steps you can take to prevent dengue mosquitoes from breeding around you:
- Drain any water reservoirs, such as bathtubs, drums, jugs, or water tanks in your home. Not only draining, you also need to scrub the walls of the water reservoir so that the mosquito eggs that are attached can be eradicated. Perform draining every day when the rainy season or transition arrives.
- If draining the water reservoir is not possible, you can put larvicide powder into the water reservoir to eradicate mosquito larvae.
- Close tightly the water reservoir in your home. In addition, you are also advised to bury used items in the ground to prevent a dirty environment that is at risk of becoming a place for mosquitoes to nest.
- Recycle waste and used goods. Another option besides burying your used items is to reuse them for other uses.
You can also get rid of the dengue mosquitoes in a way fogging aka fumigation. However, fogging usually only done when cases of dengue fever in your home area begin to increase.
