Mosquito Bite Avoidance & Protection

Mosquitoes are responsible for some of the most serious infections that travellers can encounter, and for several of these there is no vaccine and no preventive medicine at all. Bite avoidance is therefore not an optional extra — it is the single most important thing most travellers can do to protect themselves. Even where a vaccine exists, such as for yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis, no vaccine is 100% effective, and antimalarial tablets reduce but do not eliminate the risk of malaria. Because one mosquito can carry more than one type of infection, and because different mosquitoes are active at different times, a consistent routine of avoiding bites throughout your trip gives the broadest protection. At Crewe Travel Clinic we treat bite avoidance as a central part of every pre-travel consultation, not an afterthought.

A good insect repellent applied to exposed skin is the most reliable way to reduce bites. Repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) are the most widely recommended for travellers, generally at strengths of around 20% to 50%; higher concentrations do not necessarily repel more effectively but last longer before re-application is needed. DEET is considered safe when used as directed, including for pregnant and breastfeeding women and for infants aged over two months. Where DEET is not suitable, alternatives such as picaridin (also called icaridin), oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) or IR3535 can be used, though they may need more frequent application. Apply repellent after sunscreen, reapply as the product directs and after swimming or heavy sweating, and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

Covering up reduces the amount of skin a mosquito can reach. Loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers are ideal, and light colours may be less attractive to some mosquitoes. Clothing, footwear and mosquito nets can be treated with the insecticide permethrin, which kills or repels mosquitoes on contact and remains effective through several washes. An insecticide-treated bed net is particularly valuable in areas with malaria or where rooms are not screened or air-conditioned, and it should be intact, tucked in under the mattress and free of tears. Permethrin is applied to fabric only and should never be put directly on the skin.

Where and when you are bitten matters as much as how you protect yourself. Mosquitoes that spread malaria (Anopheles species) bite mainly between dusk and dawn, so overnight protection — nets, screened windows and air conditioning — is critical in malarial areas. By contrast, the Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever bite predominantly during daylight, with peaks in the early morning and late afternoon, so repellent and covering up are needed during the day too. Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquitoes that bite mainly in the evening and night, often in rural and rice-growing areas. Choosing accommodation with air conditioning or well-fitted insect screens, and reducing standing water nearby where mosquitoes breed, lowers your exposure around the clock.

Some travellers need extra care. DEET repellents can be used on infants from two months of age and during pregnancy and breastfeeding, applied sparingly and according to the label; for very young babies, mosquito nets over prams and cots are especially useful. Pregnant women, and couples planning a pregnancy, should take particular care in areas with Zika, which can harm a developing baby and for which there is no vaccine — meticulous bite avoidance is the main protection. Travellers on longer or more adventurous trips, those visiting rural areas, and people visiting friends and relatives abroad often face higher exposure and benefit from a thorough pre-travel review. Crewe Travel Clinic supports families and travellers from across Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach, Alsager and Stoke-on-Trent with practical, individualised bite-avoidance advice.

Bite avoidance works hand in hand with vaccination and, where needed, antimalarial tablets. For destinations with yellow fever, a single dose of the yellow fever vaccine is usually required or recommended and may be needed for entry; for parts of Asia, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine may be advised for higher-risk trips. A dengue vaccine (Qdenga) and a chikungunya vaccine are available for selected travellers, assessed individually. For malaria, the right antimalarial tablets depend on your destination and medical history. None of these replaces bite avoidance: they reduce the risk of specific diseases, while careful protection against bites covers the gaps — including infections such as Zika for which no vaccine exists. Booking a consultation a few weeks before travel allows time for any vaccine courses and for tablets to be started on schedule.