Bali had the highest number of dengue fever cases in early 2024, which has caused concern among foreign tourists who are holidaying there.
Foreign tourists in Bali have discovered a powerful tool in the fight against dengue-mosquito repellent spray. They have found that the scent of the spray, far from being unpleasant, is actually quite good and can even replace their usual perfume.
This is seen in this viral video uploaded to TikTok by @kateelisabethh.
@kateelisabethhorange peel scent😍♬ Turn it up – PinkPantheress
The Bali Provincial Health Office recorded 4,177 cases of dengue fever on the island from January to mid-April 2024. Five of them died from the disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
CNN Indonesia has also reported the case of a woman from Queensland complaining about her hospitalisation in Ubud, Bali, after contracting dengue haemorrhagic fever.
During her 10-day holiday in Bali, the female tourist claimed not to have seen a single mosquito or been bitten by one but still tested positive for dengue fever.
While on holiday in Bali and want to prevent mosquito bites, try these tips.
Here are some ways you can prevent mosquito bites:
1. Use mosquito repellent products
There are many types of mosquito repellent products available in the market, such as mosquito coils or electric rackets.
2. Make sure there is no stagnant water
Stagnant water is an ideal place for mosquitoes to lay eggs and breed. Therefore, ensure containers or objects, such as buckets, used cans, and plastic waste, cover no stagnant water.
3. Apply anti-mosquito lotion or spray
To prevent mosquito bites, you can use anti-mosquito lotion. Choose a lotion with mild ingredients, such as picaridin and lemon eucalyptus oil.
After applying the lotion, remember to wash your hands to avoid swallowing the lotion or irritating your eyes.
4. Clean the skin after being bitten by a mosquito
Avoid scratching the skin bitten by mosquitoes, even if it feels itchy. Scratching can cause wounds on the skin, allowing infection-causing bacteria to enter.
5. Dengue Haemoragic Fever (DHF) vaccine
Dengue prevention can be done by strengthening the immune system to fight dengue virus attacks, especially in Indonesia, which is still very prone to dengue fever. One way is through administering the DHF vaccine, often also called the dengue haemoragic fever vaccine or dengue vaccine.
The dengue vaccine contains a weakened dengue virus that does not cause infection. The introduction of the weakened dengue virus into the body through the DHF vaccine makes the immune system recognise this virus so that it can fight it quickly and effectively when there is a dengue virus attack in the future.
