When Insects Spread
DISEASE

How Can You Protect Yourself?
Some Dos and Don'ts

Awake! consulted residents of insect-infested and disease-ridden regions around the world for tips on staying healthy. You may find their advice to be helpful in your area.

Cleanliness—Your First Line of Defense

  Keep your home clean

"Cover food-storage containers. Keep cooked food covered until it's served. Clean up food spills right away. Don't leave dishes unwashed overnight or throw food garbage outdoors to be disposed of in the morning. Cover or bury it, since insects and rodents come out at night looking for food. Also, a thin layer of concrete over a dirt floor makes it easier to keep the home clean and insect free."—Africa.

"Store fruit or anything that attracts insects away from the house. Keep farm animals—goats, pigs, chickens—out of the house. Cover outdoor toilets. Bury animal droppings quickly or cover with lime to ward off flies. Even if neighbors don't do these things, you may be able to keep insects to a manageable level and also set a good example."—South America.

  Personal hygiene

"Soap is affordable, so wash hands and clothes often, especially after contact with people or animals. Avoid touching dead animals. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes with your hands. Clothes should be washed regularly even if they still appear clean. However, some fragrances attract insects, so avoid soaps and hygienic products that are scented."—Africa.

Preventive Measures

  Eliminate mosquito breeding sites

Cover water tanks and washtubs. Eliminate all open containers that catch water. Do not let water stand in potted plants. Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle lasting longer than four days.—Southeast Asia.

  Minimize exposure to insects

Avoid the insects' favorite feeding times and places. The sun sets early in the tropics, so many daily activities take place in the dark, when many insects are more active. Sitting and sleeping outside increase your risk when insect-borne disease is prevalent.—Africa.

Wear clothes that minimize exposed skin, especially when in the woods. Apply insect repellent to your clothes and skin, always following the directions on the label. Examine yourself and your children for ticks after spending time outdoors. Keep your pets healthy and free of insects.—North America.

Minimize contact with farm animals, as insects can spread disease from them to humans.—Central Asia.

Use mosquito nets—preferably impregnated with insecticides—for all members of the family. Use screens over windows, and keep the screens in good repair. Seal openings under eaves where insects can enter. Such preventive measures cost some money, but you will lose even more money if you must take a child to the hospital or if a wage earner becomes too sick to work.—Africa.

Eliminate insect hiding places from your home. Plaster over walls and ceiling, and patch cracks and holes. Cover the underside of thatched ceilings with insect-proof cloth. Remove clutter—such as piles of paper or cloth or clusters of pictures on the walls—where insects hide.—South America.

Some people regard insects and rodents as houseguests. They are not! Keep them out. Use insect repellents and insecticides—but only according to instructions. Use fly traps and flyswatters. Be inventive: One woman made a cloth tube, filled it with sand, and put it in the space under the door to keep insects from entering.—Africa.

  Preventive medicine

Keep your resistance up by getting proper nutrition, rest, and exercise. Reduce stress.—Africa.

Travelers: Inform yourself in advance of the latest information on risks. Data is available from public health departments and government Internet sites. Before you travel, take preventive treatment appropriate for the area you will visit.

If You Feel Sick

  Get medical attention quickly

Most diseases are easier to cure when diagnosed early.

  Beware of misdiagnosis

Seek doctors who are familiar with vector-borne diseases and with tropical diseases if appropriate. Tell your doctor all your symptoms and where you have traveled, even in the past. Use antibiotics only if necessary, and finish the course of treatment.

Will Things Ever Improve?