World Malaria Day: Bringing Awareness to Help Save Lives
World Malaria Day is an important opportunity for the global community to come together and bring awareness to a life-threatening issue. Malaria is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, causing more than 400,000 deaths annually in over 90 countries. It disproportionately affects young children and pregnant women in many African countries, where it has become endemic. It is a major health challenge, but it is also preventable and treatable.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, but also in parts of Asia, South America, and Central America.
Malaria can cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, and body aches. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as organ failure, anaemia, and cerebral malaria, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Prevention measures include using insecticide-treated bed nets, wearing protective clothing, using mosquito repellent, and taking preventive medication for travellers to endemic areas. Treatment usually involves antimalarial drugs, which can effectively cure the disease if taken properly.
The Impact of Malaria on children
Unfortunately, despite living in the 21st century, it is still a distressing reality that every minute, a child dies from Malaria, a disease that can be prevented and treated. The impact of Malaria is devastating, not only crippling economies but also crushing communities and causing profound loss. It is a tragedy that no parent should ever have to experience. The majority of fatalities from Malaria occur in children under the age of five. In addition to the tragic loss of life, Malaria also disrupts education by keeping children out of school and prevents adults from working, perpetuating a cycle of poverty that places undue pressure on already fragile healthcare systems. In some nations, Malaria can account for up to 40% of hospital admissions. Furthermore, the disease impedes economic growth, depriving communities, countries, and even entire continents of prosperity.
Top tips to avoid mosquito bites.
In acute malarial areas, it is imperative that you take maximum precautions to avoid mosquito bites, because half measures can easily entail you getting bitten. And remember, even the best anti-malaria tablets do not guarantee against contracting malaria, only getting bitten does. The same goes for any insect-borne disease. Prevention is the only cure.
Travellers are advised to purchase only clinically proven insect repellents as not every insect repellent is affective; Incognito has natural based Insect repellent products. This is important especially if you’re pregnant.
Deet Insect Repellents are usually recommended for use, however there are now Natural Insect Repellents which are equivalent if not better to DEET based ones.
Strict Bite avoidance measures are recommended for all travellers; the malaria-carrying anopheles’ species are active at night. Therefore, always sleep under a mosquito net as NO insect repellent will work all night long. For extra night-time protection you can also use our ROOM REFRESHER.
Other tips include spraying clothes and reapplying insect repellent after washing hands or any other parts of the body.
If you are especially susceptible to insect bites follow C.L.O.A.K.
C – Cover up skin as much as possible with suitable clothing, especially arms and legs. You can also soak clothes with 10-20 drops of Java citronella (not the cheaper & less effective C. nardus) diluted in water & leave for 15 minutes or more.
L – Light coloured Loose clothing is advisable to wear as mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours.
O – Odours, both bodily & otherwise e.g., perfumes & nearly all scented toiletries attract insects to you. Therefore, it is key to wash thoroughly morning and evening with our citrus-aromatic HAIR & BODYWASH. Use a loofah every other day to remove dirt from skin pores if you are very attractive to insects e.g. get bitten in the UK: unlike synthetic mittens and other man-made exfoliators, only a natural loofah has microscopic hairs to remove the detritus.
A – Apply incognito® 100% effective insect repellent spray, roll-on, lotion or suncream repellent on exposed skin. Reapply every 4-5 hours or whenever necessary.
K – Keep mosquitoes out of your dwelling by using an incognito® ROOM REFRESHER OR INCENSE STICKS. Keep away from stagnant water.
Our formulation is made through a unique secret process that increases the duration of efficacy by 22% and gives 100% complete protection time (CPT) for seven hours. This special concoction is in all our repellents, it is derived from the purest form of natural PMD (Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus) and is 100% effective against all the main disease-carrying mosquitoes in extensive testing.
In addition to best insect repellent a lot of incognito products have won awards for best mosquito repellent & best midge repellent.
Let’s come together on World Malaria Day to raise awareness of this deadly disease and take proactive steps to protect not only ourselves and our loved ones but to also take steps to help those living in high-risk areas that don't have the same access to resources for preventative protection.
We are proud to be able to offer products that provide an effective solution in preventing illnesses such as malaria, and we hope that our products can be useful for you during your travels. Get in contact with us if you have any questions about using our products and how to protect against malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses.