Precautions during Common Wealth Games in New Delhi

So finally I was able to get tickets to India’s most spectacular sporting extravaganza... CWG or Common wealth games. Even though the games have been plagued from the start with all the negative publicity for corruption and doubts about its meeting the deadlines. Me as a hardcore sports loving person just want to be there and see my country sports person perform at world class level.. so these controversies don’t bother me, I am going JUST for the love of sports , but there is one concern I do have and it has nothing to do with deadlines not being met or about the corruption charges because I think our media is doing a good job in highlighting that  but what I would like to point out  something that I believe is not getting its due coverage, I mean I do read the statistics every day about the number of dengue cases that are popping up every day on the first page of all leading dailies but what’s missing are the precautions one should take in combating them. Why I think that’s important because to everyone I have spoken about my trip to Delhi everyone has only one reaction... and that is, are you sure?? Are you not aware about the dengue epidemic that’s happening there??? well so I thought let me write this article to put some light on how one can take precautions and be safe from the dengue menace .

India is particularly considered a mosquito infested country, and mosquito borne illnesses exist plenty and the government eradication efforts are not of much help either.

Malaria is the main threat , but dengue fever is on the rise if one sees the statistics then there are more reported cases of dengue today in Delhi than malaria, let me tell you how you can minimize mosquito bites:

• Number one on my list is to apply anti-mosquito lotions and sprays.
• Apply it to clothes and unbroken skin, but avoid ingestion and don't use it on infants. If you are worried about the effects of the chemicals then the next best alternatives seems to be eucalyptus and citronella oil.
• Try to cover your body with clothes, as much as you can by wearing full sleeves clothing. And if you wearing sandals try wearing socks with them. 
  
• One interesting fact about mosquitoes is that they are more attracted to dark colors, so wear white, maybe even thin nightwear.
• Avoid applying strong perfumes and colognes as they attract mosquitoes towards you.
• At restaurants, request mosquito coils.
• Get a mosquito net for travelling.

Now let me keep my focus on the star of this article and that is Aedes aegypti. Yes it’s the name of the mosquito that causes the dengue fever, and it is most common in urban areas around human dwellings, and is most active during the daytime and breeds in clear water. No wonder all the construction site at the CWG is the best breeding grounds for them. As these sites have large pools of water used during the constructions.

Once bitten by the mosquito the symptoms usually start to appear between 5 and 7 days after. The symptoms include severe headaches, high fever which may come and go, joint and muscle pains, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, there is also a rash with small red spots that is noticed after the onset of fever.

Dengue fever is a very serious illness, and once you notice any of the said symptoms one has to go to the doctor immediately for treatment. There is no vaccine against dengue fever, and no specific treatment. You'll have to follow the doctor's orders .If you want to reduce your chances substantially, and then follow the recommendations near the top of this page.

See you at CWG.