[Click! Health] Summer Uninvited Guest Mosquitoes... How Can We Avoid Them?

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the rainy season ends and the intense heat of summer arrives, the unwelcome summer guest, mosquitoes, have also started to become active. Recently, the ‘small red house mosquito,’ a vector of Japanese encephalitis, has been found in various parts of the country, leading to the issuance of a ‘Japanese Encephalitis Alert.’ Therefore, it is important to be careful to avoid mosquito bites.

When engaging in outdoor activities in places with many mosquitoes such as mountains or forests, it is advisable to wear long sleeves and long pants to minimize skin exposure. You should also avoid colors that mosquitoes prefer, such as red, orange, and black. On the other hand, green, yellow, and white are colors that mosquitoes tend to avoid. Applying mosquito repellent to the body is also effective. Since many easy-to-apply repellents have been released, it is good to keep them handy during outdoor activities.

Indoors, maintaining a cool temperature to prevent mosquitoes, which prefer high temperatures, from being active or placing plants that mosquitoes dislike is also a good method. Rose geranium, which emits a scent similar to roses, and rosemary, widely used in cooking, tea, and air fresheners, are well-known plants that emit odors mosquitoes dislike. Additionally, mosquitoes detect human body odor and carbon dioxide released from breathing and sweat, so keeping clean is also important.

If bitten by a mosquito, washing the bitten area with soapy water as soon as possible and applying ice packs can reduce swelling and itching. Using topical or easy-to-apply insect bite treatments is also recommended.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.