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World desk3 min

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites That Can Spread Dengue

Dengue mosquitoes bite by day and night. Learn how to use repellent, clothing, home protections and travel precautions to prevent bites.
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Prevent dengue by combining an EPA-registered insect repellent, loose-fitting long clothing, and steps that keep mosquitoes out of your home and away from standing water. Dengue-spreading mosquitoes can bite during the day and at night, so protection should not be limited to bedtime. When traveling, use screened or air-conditioned accommodation; use a bed net if neither is available or if you sleep outdoors.

Choose and use an EPA-registered repellent

CDC recommends an insect repellent registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Check the product label for its EPA registration number and follow its directions for application and reapplication. CDC identifies these active ingredients in EPA-registered repellents: DEET, picaridin (also called KBR 3023 or icaridin outside the United States), IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), and 2-undecanone. No one ingredient is identified as best for everyone; compare the product’s labeled protection time, intended use, age directions, and format. Do not assume protection time from an ingredient name or concentration alone. CDC’s mosquito-bite prevention guidance also links to EPA’s product search tool, where you can filter by active ingredient and protection time.

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  • Apply repellent only as directed. Do not put it on skin covered by clothing.
  • If you use sunscreen and repellent together, apply sunscreen first and repellent second.
  • CDC says EPA-registered repellents, when used as directed, are proven safe and effective, including for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  • The effectiveness of non-EPA-registered repellents, including some natural products, is not known; do not rely on them as established dengue protection.

Repellent precautions for children

Cover children’s arms and legs, and use mosquito netting over strollers and baby carriers. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old. Do not apply repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin. For the child’s face, an adult should put repellent on their own hands first and then apply it. Follow the specific product label for all age and use directions.

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Add a clothing barrier

Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce exposed skin. Permethrin-treated clothing and gear can add protection, but permethrin products are for fabric or gear—not for direct application to skin. CDC says treated clothing continues to provide protection after multiple washings. See CDC’s guidance on clothing and other bite-prevention measures.

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Make your home harder for mosquitoes to enter and breed

Block entry

  • Use screens on windows and doors, and repair holes in them.
  • Use air conditioning if it is available.

Remove water-holding containers weekly

Once a week, check indoors and outdoors for items that hold water. Empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or discard them. CDC examples include tires, buckets, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, and trash containers. CDC’s prevention guidance describes these home measures.

Plan for mosquito protection when traveling

  1. Before departure: Check country-specific travel advice and pack an EPA-registered repellent.
  2. Where you stay: Choose accommodation with air conditioning and window or door screens where possible.
  3. When sleeping: Use a bed net if screened or air-conditioned rooms are unavailable, or if you will sleep outdoors.

These recommendations come from CDC’s dengue prevention guidance.

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Keep preventing bites after returning

If you return from an area with dengue risk, continue preventing mosquito bites for three weeks, even if you feel well. This helps prevent mosquitoes from acquiring the virus from you and transmitting it to other people. CDC says dengue symptoms usually begin within two weeks after a bite from an infected mosquito. If you develop a fever or other symptoms after travel, seek medical care and tell the clinician where you traveled. CDC’s guidance on preventing dengue covers both post-travel precautions and symptoms.

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Quick Recap

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