Even in paradise it’s not always paradise. Last week my house was invaded in the evening by a massive swarm of mosquitoes. I’ve never really been troubled by them before but this battalion came on thick and fast and are the size of flies! They whine, they bite and they suck blood - all of which are offenses punishable by death.
Luckily, most of the mosquitoes in the Caribbean region are free from Malaria but cases of this disease have been reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. More frequently in the Eastern Caribbean, they do transmit
Dengue fever which does not have any treatment and in rare cases can be deadly. Therefore it is important to protect yourself from these nasty critters.
By wearing long pants and shirts in the evening you can avoid some bites when they are at their most prominent. Mosquito nets over the bed at night are essential to prevent getting ambushed in the night! I diffuse the scent of citronella essential oil through my house using an oil burner. This works as a natural repellant as for me the regular coils from the shops make me cough.
Citronella can also be used on the skin but must be heavily diluted in a vegetable carrier oil first. It is also best only to apply it at night as it has properties that can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. I recommend avoiding the commercial sprays with harsh ingredients which can have side effects for you and the environment. If your are visiting the islands look for a more natural treatments in your home country before you travel.
If the blood suckers do bite it’s important not to scratch, although that can be easier said than done! Natural home remedies to ease the itch are Aloe Vera and garlic but both of these can be a bit stinky! A dab of lavender oil can be a more fragrant itch soother if you have to socialize.
To prevent mosquitoes it is vital to remove any sources of stagnant water that they can breed in. They also like overgrown bushes so we have been cutting back the ever encroaching weeds around our house. Mosquitoes are a problem in paradise but with precautions they don’t have to be a big one.
