Dengue fever: mosquitoes are breeding in homes.
A study based on information from health agents shows that 80% of Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding sites are in homes, where access for professionals fighting the disease vector is more difficult; almost half of the breeding sites in homes are found in improperly discarded trash; the basic rule is not to leave standing water in any type of container; it is essential that objects that can serve as breeding grounds for the mosquito are routinely cleaned with brushes or sponges.
247 - A recent study based on information from health agents concluded that 80% of breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue fever, are found inside homes – where access for public health professionals is difficult. And, of those 80%, almost half are found in improperly discarded trash.
To prevent the disease, the Goiás State Health Department is alerting the population about the importance of taking decisive preventative measures throughout the year. This is because the mosquito eggs remain attached, in a dormant state, to the surfaces of various types of objects and materials, such as plant pots, old tires, and gutters, turning them into breeding grounds. The eggs survive for more than 450 days and hatch upon contact with water.
In the fight against dengue fever, simple measures, when practiced daily, generate good results and help protect the community. The website denguemata.saude.go.gov.br contains important information and tips for combating dengue. The most effective action is to prevent the mosquito from breeding, as there are no vaccines or medications to combat the infection. To do this, it is necessary to eliminate the places they choose for reproduction. To give you an idea, the mosquito lives for about 30 to 45 days and, during that period, can infect up to 300 people.
Sanitation
The basic rule is to not leave standing water in any type of container. It is essential that objects that can serve as breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are routinely cleaned, before and during the rainy season. Containers used as animal water bowls and plant pots, for example, should be cleaned by scrubbing with brushes or sponges. Simply drying out standing water reservoirs does not prevent the dengue mosquito from reproducing. It is necessary to clean them by scrubbing with a sponge, as the eggs can remain "alive" for more than a year without water. When you find mosquito larvae in a container, do not discard them in drains, but directly on the ground.
Although female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs in containers with clean water, they can also lay them in breeding grounds with dirty, stagnant water. Therefore, to combat dengue fever, it is important to eliminate any source of standing water, regardless of whether it is clean or dirty. Gutters should also be properly cleaned. The strong winds characteristic of the dry season can carry leaves, dust, and other types of material that clog the gutters and promote water accumulation, where mosquitoes breed.
Water tanks
Water tanks should be cleaned regularly every six months. These containers can have cracks through which small animals, including dengue mosquitoes, can pass. It is recommended that cleaning be done with one liter of bleach for every thousand liters of water and that the tanks are always covered. Swimming pools should also be cleaned routinely. When not in use, they should be scrubbed, emptied, and covered.
the mosquito
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is smaller than a common mosquito, brown or black in color, with white stripes on its body and legs. It is diurnal, its bite occurs in the early morning and late afternoon, is odorless, and does not cause itching. During flight, the mosquito makes no noise so as not to attract attention.
The female mosquito can lay more than 100 eggs at a time. Its life cycle has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The development of the eggs until the emergence of the mosquito takes only about 10 days, although this period may be shorter depending on the environmental conditions in which the eggs were laid. It is the female mosquito that infects humans, as it needs a substance from blood (albumin) to complete the maturation process of its eggs, while the male feeds only on plant sap.
Transmission
The transmission cycle begins when the female mosquito bites a person with dengue fever. The time required for the virus to reproduce in the mosquito's body is 8 to 12 days. After this, it begins to transmit the virus that causes the disease. This same mosquito, when biting a healthy human, transmits the virus into that person's bloodstream. Within a period ranging from 3 to 15 days, the disease begins to manifest. From then on, the cycle can repeat itself.