Mosquito Bite Prevention for Travellers in Brampton: Malaria, Dengue and More

In Brampton, mosquitoes are mostly a summer nuisance in the backyard or at Chinguacousy Park after dusk. In many travel destinations, they are something more. Mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions can carry malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Some of these illnesses are mild for most people; others can be severe or life-threatening.

The common thread is simple: if a mosquito does not bite you, it cannot infect you. That makes bite prevention the foundation of protection for every one of these diseases. Vaccines and preventive medicines add extra layers for specific illnesses, but none of them replaces the basics.

This article explains how mosquito-borne illnesses differ, how to prevent bites effectively, and how to plan with a pharmacist. The Travel Health Clinic at Wellness Point Pharmacy, 115 Dufay Road can assess your itinerary and help you put together a plan.

Different mosquitoes, different risks

Not all mosquitoes behave the same way, and that affects how you protect yourself.

• Malaria is spread by mosquitoes that mainly bite between dusk and dawn. Evening and night-time protection, including bed nets, is especially important.
• Dengue, chikungunya and Zika are spread by mosquitoes that often bite during the day, including in urban areas. Daytime repellent use matters.
• Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes that are often associated with rural, agricultural areas, particularly rice paddies and pig farming, and tend to bite in the evening.
• Yellow fever is spread by mosquitoes in parts of Africa and South America, which can bite during the day.

Because many destinations have more than one of these risks, the practical advice is to protect yourself around the clock where mosquito-borne illness is present.

Choosing and using insect repellent

An effective repellent is one of the most important items in your travel kit. In Canada, common repellent ingredients include DEET and icaridin (also called picaridin), among others. Health Canada regulates insect repellents as pest control products, and approved products show a registration number on the label.

Practical tips:

• Choose a product suitable for the age of the person using it, and follow the label directions for how often to reapply.
• Apply to exposed skin only, not under clothing.
• If you also use sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and repellent afterwards.
• Do not apply repellent to cuts, irritated skin, or children’s hands, which often end up in their mouths.
• Wash treated skin when you come indoors for the night, unless you need ongoing protection.

Ask the pharmacist which products and concentrations suit your destination and your family, particularly for young children or anyone who is pregnant.

Clothing and accommodation

What you wear and where you sleep matter as much as repellent:

• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and long trousers when mosquitoes are active.
• Consider clothing treated with permethrin, an insecticide that can be applied to fabric (not skin). Some outdoor clothing is sold pre-treated.
• Choose accommodation with screened windows and doors, or air conditioning.
• Where rooms are not well screened, sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net and tuck it in properly.
• Empty standing water around your accommodation if you are staying somewhere for a long time, such as a family home.

Families staying with relatives in rural areas may find bed nets especially useful. They are light to pack and can make a big difference. Check nets for holes before each use, and remember that babies and toddlers who nap during the day may need a net over their cot or stroller as well, since some mosquitoes bite in daylight.

Malaria: the case for preventive medication

Malaria is a parasitic infection that can become severe very quickly, particularly a form called Plasmodium falciparum, which is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria risk exists in parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania, though risk varies greatly within countries and between seasons.

For travellers to higher-risk areas, prescription antimalarial medication is often recommended in addition to bite prevention. Several different medicines are used, and the right choice depends on the destination, resistance patterns, your health, other medications, pregnancy, the length of your trip and your preferences. Some are started before you leave and continued after you return home.

This is a decision for a travel health consultation, not something to sort out at the destination. Antimalarial medicines bought overseas may be counterfeit or of poor quality. Ask the pharmacist whether antimalarial medication is appropriate for your trip and how to take it according to the directions.

Dengue and chikungunya

Dengue is a viral infection common in many tropical and subtropical regions, including popular destinations in the Caribbean, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Most cases cause fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain and a rash. A small number become severe, with bleeding or shock, and people who have had dengue before can be at higher risk of severe illness if infected again.

Chikungunya causes fever and often severe joint pain, which can occasionally persist for months. Wellness Point offers a chikungunya prevention consultation, where the pharmacist can assess your risk and discuss vaccination when appropriate.

For both illnesses, daytime bite prevention is essential. If you develop a fever during or after your trip, seek medical care, and avoid taking certain pain relievers, such as anti-inflammatories, until dengue has been ruled out, unless a health care provider advises otherwise.

Zika and pregnancy

Zika virus is usually mild, but infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. It can also be transmitted sexually. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, discuss any travel to areas with Zika risk carefully with a health care provider. The Public Health Agency of Canada’s travel health pages include information on Zika and pregnancy, and recommendations can change as the situation evolves.

Vaccines for mosquito-borne illness

For some mosquito-borne diseases, vaccines are available:

• Yellow fever vaccine may be recommended or required for parts of Africa and South America. Wellness Point is a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre; read more on the yellow fever prevention page.
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine may be recommended for certain itineraries in Asia and the western Pacific, especially longer stays or rural travel. See the Japanese encephalitis prevention page.
• Chikungunya vaccine may be discussed for some travellers, as noted above.

No vaccine is available in Canada for malaria for travellers, so bite prevention and, where appropriate, preventive medication remain the main protections.

When you do get bitten

Even careful travellers get the occasional bite. Most mosquito bites cause nothing more than an itchy bump that settles within a few days. Try not to scratch, since broken skin can become infected, particularly in hot, humid climates. A cool compress can ease itching, and the pharmacist can suggest a suitable product to pack, such as an oral antihistamine or a soothing cream, based on your age and other medications.

Watch for signs of infection, such as spreading redness, warmth, swelling or pus, and seek care if they appear. Large local reactions are more common in some people and in young children. If you have had significant reactions to insect bites before, mention it at your consultation. At home, the pharmacy’s insect bite and hives service can assess troublesome reactions.

The same habits work closer to home

The skills you learn for a trip are useful in Ontario too. Mosquitoes here can carry West Nile virus during the warmer months, and Peel Public Health monitors mosquito activity each season. Ticks, which spread Lyme disease, are a separate concern in wooded and grassy areas. Using repellent, wearing long sleeves at dusk, and emptying standing water in planters, bird baths and old tires around your home all help. Peel Region’s public health website shares local information during mosquito season.

Fever after travel is a red flag

Any fever during travel to, or within several months after returning from, a malaria-risk area should be treated as possible malaria until proven otherwise. Seek medical care promptly and tell the provider exactly where you have been. Malaria can appear even if you took preventive medication, and it can progress quickly.

The same principle applies to dengue and other infections. Do not wait to see whether a fever settles. Prompt assessment can be life-saving. If you are seen at a walk-in clinic or emergency department, say clearly at the start that you have recently returned from travel and name the countries, so that the right tests are considered.

Book a mosquito-borne illness consultation in Brampton

Mosquito bite prevention is simple in principle and easy to neglect in practice. A consultation helps you plan the specifics: the right repellent, the right clothing and accommodation choices, and whether vaccines or preventive medication make sense for your itinerary.

Wellness Point Pharmacy is at 115 Dufay Road, Brampton, ON L7A 0B5. Phone (905) 843-7155 to ask about an appointment, check the contact page for store information, or reserve a time through the booking page. Bring your itinerary, travel dates and medication list so the pharmacist can tailor the advice to your trip.

This article gives general information about mosquito-borne illness for travellers. Recommendations depend on destination and individual health, so please seek personalised advice from a pharmacist or travel health provider.