Prevent Dengue With These 6 Products
From old-fashioned coils to modern electric mats and all-natural traps, here are effective and affordable products to keep mosquitoes at bay
With the rainy season in full swing, mosquito infestations usually follow, mostly because of stagnant rainwater and other sources. According to the Dengue Disease Surveillance Report of the Department of Health (DOH), there were 76,391 reported dengue cases in the country from January 1 to September 2, 2017.
Regardless of where we live, we have to protect our entire family from mosquito-borne diseases. But short of having our home fumigated or spraying our rooms with smelly (or potentially toxic) chemicals all the time, what else can we do to protect ourselves on a daily basis?
Go for insect-repellants that are auto-dispersed throughout the day (so you don’t have to think about it all the time), or repellants that you can plug in or light when you are in the area. Here are some simple, effective, and very affordable products on the market:
Electric Liquid Repeller
This is an electric device that you plug into an electrical outlet. It has a bottle of liquid insect repellant that is heated when it comes into contact with the wick of the device, and the repellant is dispersed into the air to repel mosquitoes and other pests. One refill lasts 30 days.
Note: The liquid itself is potentially harmful and fatal when swallowed, so keep it away from children and pets. You have to use it in a well-ventilated place and away from food prep, plus, if your room is more than ten square meters in size, you need more than one.
Baygon Liquid Repeller kit, P420 (sale price), Lazada; refill, P272, Robinsons Supermarket
Anti-Dengue Mats
Working on the same principle as the electric Liquid Repeller, an anti-dengue mat is inserted into an electric device that you plug into an outlet. When the mat gets in touch with the grid, which is heated, it will disperse the repellant.
Note: This variant should be used for only eight hours.
Baygon Anti-Dengue Mat, price upon request; mat refills, P67.50, Robinsons Supermarket, Handyman
Another mat variant is the Strike Dengue Mosquito Killer Mat, which purportedly has less toxicity, is odorless, environment-friendly, and covers a 12x12 feet area.
Strike Dengue Mosquito Killer Starter Pack, P58; Mat Refills, P61, athealthcare.com, and at Robinsons Supermarket
Mosquito Coil
The mosquito coil or katol may seem like a blast from the past, but it is still effective, and the most affordable repellant. Basically, you light a coil and set it into a fireproof container, and the smoke it emits repels bugs and mosquitoes. It’s pretty handy if a storm causes the electricity to go out, and you can’t use electrical repellants, or if you’re outdoors. Not all mosquito coils are safe to use, though—check out this list to see if the one you are using is FDA-approved.
Note: The smell can sometimes get overwhelming (use it in a well-ventilated place), but the lavender variant of Baygon is quite pleasant. You shouldn’t leave it unattended, and might as well use a pretty, ceramic katol container to burn it in (find one at Dapitan arcade).
Baygon Scented Mosquito Coil, P15, Robinsons Supermarket
Mosquito Repellant Lotion
For a double-dose of protection, wear insect repellant lotion throughout the day, and especially outdoors. The FamilyCare Insect Repellent Spray by Off! repels mosquitoes that may carry Zika, Dengue, and the West Nile virus, plus the spray bottle is easy to use, and the texture non-sticky.
Off! FamilyCare Insect Repellent Spray, P468 (sale price), Lazada
You might want to add this to your arsenal: The OL Trap
Aside from your insect repellant devices, try to eliminate the mosquitoes at its source with the Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap or “OL Trap.” Developed by the Department of Science and Technology, the trap busts mosquitoes at its very source by attracting female mosquitoes to lay their eggs on a solution-soaked stick, which kills their eggs.
You can buy traps from Czary Techno Industries at (02) 921-8979, or for more info, click here
