Question:
If I clap my hands together and kill a Dengue mosquito that way, and I get blood on my hands, will I become infected?
Answer:
Not at all. For you to become infected, the mosquito has to regurgitate the live Dengue viruses from its gut and then inject them into your blood stream while taking a blood meal from you. It is like having a ‘shot’ of something in the doctor’s office by the needle. You must get the prick, so to speak. In other words, the mosquito must bite.
But then again, it is not automatic that if you are bitten by an infected mosquito that you will get consciously sick. There is what you call an asymtomatic illness wherein you become infected with, say, the Dengue virus, but you show no signs and symptoms of the disease. Or that your reaction is so mild that you may put it down to the flu and never even check on it. You then get better and remain non the wiser that you actually had Dengue.
In short, just getting blood from a mosquito on your hands is not sufficient for you to contract Dengue.
THING YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MOSQUITOES.... It would take 1,200,000 mosquitoes, each sucking once, to completely drain the average human of blood. (Sources: discovermagazine.com / anannimos.blogspot.com) - Now you know.
Whether or not you get Dengue, Mehran, is anybody’s guess. You see, the probability is dependent on where you have been (‘church’, school, market, friend’s house – you get the point) at any given time. Take note of any news or gossip about people with Dengue in the neighbourhood because that will tell you if there is a chance the Dengue virus is circulating in your area.
Armed with this information, you may decide to wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants with thick bobby socks and apply a repellent with DEET to exposed skin. Never mind the face because the Dengue mosquito does not bite around the head.
But the best way to protect yourself is to check for stagnant water around your home at least once a week. Cover the containers with water in them if you need the water. Overturn the ones not in use. Get rid of the ones you don’t need. Encourage your friends and neighbours to do the same.
In the event you still get bitten by the mosquito, look for the signs and symptoms that I listed in my answer to Tariq. Visit your doctor or go to the closest clinic for a check-up if you come down with any three of the signs and symptoms.
Has that helped?
I was outside a friend’s house when I got bitten by a mosquito. I think it was the Asian Tiger mosquito. I discovered this when he tried to bite me again. However I did get a bump on my arm and it was itching. What is the probability that I might be affected? And what measures can I take to prevent myself from catching dengue.
Plz someone help me out
Thank you for your question, Tariq.
It takes roughly 5 to 7 days (3-14 days in general) before you get a high fever, a severe headache accompanied by body aches especially in your joints and muscles. One good way to tell that you may be coming down with Dengue Fever Tariq is if it is painful when you move your eye balls.
Also, you will lose your appetite and may even vomit when your stomach starts to make you upset.
People with Dengue could develop a rash on the body. The gums may bleed when you brush your teeth too.
Since it is impossible to tell if you really have Dengue without a blood test, you should immediately go a doctor as soon as you observe any three of the signs and symptoms I described to you.
Finally, and very importantly Tariq, look inside and outside your home to see if there are wrigglers or mosquito larvae in water barrels, drums and tanks, buckets, pails, old fridges, stoves and sinks as well as flower pots and vases – anything that can hold clear water. Cover the containers of water that you need, overturn the others and get rid of the junk.
Does that answer your question? Do you have any other questions about Dengue?
If a Dengue mosquito bites me and at the spot I see that it was a Dengue mosquito, what should I do? And the other question is, after how much time can I laboratory test my blood to find out whether I am infected or not?
Better still, the possibility is nil if you are not bitten.
Thanks, this is very useful for me. So the possibility is very small as long as we are not bitten by Dengue mosquitoes.