MosiGuard - Insect & Diseases
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Mosiguard

 


Insects and Diseases

Mosi-guard is effective against.....

Mosquitoes:
Mosquitoes
are found almost everywhere and almost everyone has experienced the irritation of a mosquito bite.
Nuisance bites are bad enough but these insects also transmit a whole range of serious diseases
Ross River, Barmah Forest, Murray Valley Encephalitis, Kunjin, Yellow fever, Dengue Fever and Japanese Encephalitis virus infection, Malaria and Filariasis (Elephantiasis) (to name a few!!) are all transmitted by mosquitoes are all best avoided.  Mosquitoes tend to bite between dusk and dawn but some, like the Aedes mosquito  which can spread Ross River and Barmah Forest virus and Dengue Fever do bite during the day.

Sandflies

In Australia, we often refer to “sandflies” but such “sandflies” are really midges (see below).
Sandflies are tiny insects sometimes called "no see ums"
They tend to bite at night and the bite is intensely itchy and irritating. These tiny beasts spread sand fly fevers and a serious disease called leishmaniasis.
They are small enough to fit through a mosquito net so make sure your net is impregnated with an insecticide like permethrin.

Ticks
Ticks inhabit grass or scrub land vegetation, often in wooded or forested areas.
When they are hungry for blood they crawl up the leaves of plants and attach to passing people or animals.
When biting they stay strongly attached to the skin for many hours and are difficult to detach.
They can transmit a number of diseases including Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Spotted Fevers and Lyme Disease.

Midges

Midges
are often referred to in Australia as “sandflies” but really they are “midges”. Midges are swarming insects that will be familiar to anyone who has visited the coastal areas during the summer months.
Bites from these swarming clouds of midges can make life almost unbearable. Midge bites commonly get infected especially in children who scratch them because they are so itchy.

Leeches

Leeches are not usually thought of in the same category as biting insects, but leeches have a real “yuk” factor. Scientific tests in leech-infested areas prove that Mosi-guard is also a very effective leech repellent!

Mosiguard Guide to Biting Insects & "Bugs" & Why You Should Avoid Them

Insect or Bug

Description

Diseases

When Bite Most Likely

Comments

MOSQUITOES

 

 

 

 

Anopheles

Head & Body in straight line & at angle to wall. Often have spotted wings

Malaria, Filariasis

Night

Indoors & out

Mainly rural

Bite not usually painful, but normally causes local reaction lasting hours to days. Malaria does not occur in Australia but it is the leading cause of death worldwide

Aedes

Body parallel to wall with head bent down.

Black & white

Viruses like Ross River , Barmah Forest , Dengue, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, Viral encephalitis

Filariasis

Day

Indoors & out

Urban & rural

Bite not usually painful, but normally causes local reaction lasting hours to days. Dengue occurs in Far North Queensland and may be fatal. Ross River Virus occurs throughout Australia and causes an acute illness with rash & arthritis. Fatigue and other symptoms can last months or years.

Culex

Body parallel to wall with head bent down.

Brown

Viruses like Ross River , Barmah Forest , Filariasis

Evening,/ night

Indoors & out

Urban & rural

Bite not usually painful, but normally causes local reaction lasting hours to days. See above for Ross River Virus.

BITING FLIES

 

 

 

 

Biting Flies " March Flies" "Stable Flies "

Large 6-15mm long;

brown/greyish mouthparts stick out in front of head

Not known to transmit Human Disease except in the tropics

Day

Rural

Painful; may cause pricking sensation followed by itching & swelling

Midge (often called " sandfly ")

(Culicoides)

Minute 0.2mm

Dark, spotted wings

Nuisance, often attack in swarms

Evening

Outdoors rural

Sharp prick often with irritating lumps which often get infected, especially in children

TICKS

 

 

 

 

Ixodes, Argasid

"Paralysis Ticks" "Shellbacks", "Bush Ticks"

Large often pea-shaped & bluish when fed; 3-30mm

Many coloured wingless;

8 legs (larvae 6 legs)

Spotted Fever (tick typhus), Lyme Disease, Tickborne Encephalitis (TBE)

Day/ night

Rural/ urban

Range from painless to very painful. Black scab or eschar in typhus; Red reaction in allergy & Lyme Disease. TBE is not in Australia

LEECHES        
Various species. Leeches are segmented & related to earthworms Varying sizes and shapes. Larger when engorged with blood. None known apart from allergic and local reactions at attachment site. Increased bleeding at attachment site when removed. Attachment most likely in wet, bush & jungle environments Secondary skin infection (cellulitis) can occur if care not taken with removal of leech

Reference: "Taking the Mystery out of Malaria" Dr BJ Hudson, Dr K Donovan. Available from MASTA.

MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) recommends Mosiguard

 






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