Dengue Season Chiang Mai, Thailand
Following the completion of trials for a dengue vaccine which will be commercially available next year 2016 (NOW AVAILABLE, but please note Dengvaxia® is only for use in people from 9 to 45 years of age who have been infected with dengue virus before and who live in areas where this infection is endemic.), we would like to list the best ways to prevent getting dengue by avoiding being bitten by an infected mosquito.
To protect yourself against dengue in Chiang Mai, particularly during rainy season:
1) Use mosquito repellent containing DEET (N-diethylmetatoluamide), although please beware that products containing DEET should not be used in children younger than two years, alternative repellents are available. 2) Wear protective, loose-fitting clothing. Mosquitoes are able to bite through tight-fitting clothes. Trousers, long-sleeved shirts and socks and shoes (not sandals) are ideal. 3) Sleep under a mosquito net to avoid being bitten at night. 4) Be aware of your environment. The Aedes mosquito which causes dengue is easily identifiable by the distinctive black and white stripes on its body. They breed in standing water in crowded urban environments. Such as toilets as well as water that gathers inside a stack of old tires or your plant pots etc. 5) Use an effective electronic mosquito trap indoors. If you are in Chiang Mai, Thailand and believe you may have symptoms of dengue fever please contact us as soon as possible for treatment.
BEWARE THE BITE. STOP DENGUE IN CHIANG MAI!
A good guide to preventing the Aedes mosquito from breeding has been published by the Singapore government which can be downloaded below: