It’s official.
The number of people with Dengue Fever in Bangkok has now reached fever pitch at almost 25,000.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have announced that Wattana is one of 10 districts with the highest number of reported cases of the mosquito-borne disease.
So, residents from Nana to On Nut, on the north side of Sukhumvit Road – it’s time to get vigilant.
We’re not doctors (despite our parents’ most fevered hopes and dreams) but here’s a few tips on how to avoid getting bitten by those dastardly mosquitoes…
- Air-conditioning. Now is not the time to be a Cheap Charlie and sweat through the night. Slap that air-con on as mosquitoes are less likely to be active in cooler environments with continually circulating air. At the very least, close the window and use a mosquito net.
- Repellant. Effective mosquito repellants contain at least 10% deet and are thus incredibly toxic to bugs. Personally, I hate using anything that poisonous on myself so opt instead for Avon Skin So Soft: Dry Oil Spray. Before you laugh, note that the SAS, Royal Marines and, er, Mel Gibson swear by it as an effective yet safe repellant.
- Cover up. You know the drill; cover those legs and arms up, especially at night. Bangkok’s at its most cool right now so if there was ever a time to not parade around half-naked, it’s now.
- Destroy habitats. Mosquito habitats, that is. Chances are if you live in an apartment or condo on Sukhumvit, the owner or property manager will have some sort of regular pest control in place whereby they’ll destroy any habitats and proactively spray units and the building to keep the little gits away.
It’s thought that Thailand is still around 5 years away from a workable Dengue vaccine so proactivity in avoiding mosquito bites is key.
Here are some of the most common symptoms that occur 4 to 10 days post bite:
- High fever
- Headaches
- A rash
- Muscle, bone and joint pain
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Pain behind the eyes
- Bleeding from the gums or nose
If you think you may have Dengue Fever, consult a doctor immediately.
In the meantime, I’m gonna try and track down an Avon Lady in Bangkok…
Featured image is by CDC Global Health and used under a Creative Commons licence
