Travel tips

Mosquitoes can transmit various diseases, such as malaria, dengue, zika virus, yellow fever, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile virus. Unfortunately, there are still no medicines or vaccines available for some of these diseases.

There are different types of mosquitoes that can be active both at night and during the day. You can protect yourself from mosquito bites by taking several precautions.

Here are some tips:

• Keep the area you are in mosquito-free by using an insecticide-treated mosquito net or insect screen on windows.
• Keep windows closed as much as possible and turn on the air conditioning when you can.
• Wear covering clothes as much as possible: long sleeves, long trousers, socks, and closed shoes to cover your skin.
• Wear loose clothing: mosquitoes can bite through thin trousers and socks. The looser the clothing, the harder it is for mosquitoes to reach your skin.
• Wear light-coloured clothing. This helps you look less warm and makes you a less attractive target for mosquitoes.
• Use mosquito repellent with DEET as directed:
  • Apply enough repellent on the exposed parts of the skin.
  • Use products with a DEET percentage of 30 to 50%. Young children and pregnant women are advised to use DEET with a percentage of less than 30%.
  • DEET up to 30% can be applied a maximum of 4 times a day. DEET 30-40% can be applied a maximum of 3 times a day, and DEET 40-50% can be applied a maximum of 2 times a day.
  • If you need both sunscreen and DEET: first apply sunscreen. Then apply DEET after half an hour to an hour.

In our Travel Clinics, we sell various mosquito repellent products. If you want more information about measures against mosquitoes and insects, vaccinations, or need advice, please contact us or make an appointment.