| If there's one insect that can truly be
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| | gutters, refrigerator drip pans, and
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| called a pest, it's the mosquito.
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| | other places that collect rainwater.
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| Incredible as it sounds, this tiny insect
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| | Many factors contribute to the spread of
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| can cause a host of diseases ranging from
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| | dengue. These include climate changes
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| malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, and
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| | brought about by the El Nino phenomenon,
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| encephalitis (the inflammation of the
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| | increasing urban populations, and
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| brain).
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| | poverty. Mosquito breeding sites have
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| One of the most common diseases
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| | also increased due to poor water storage
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| transmitted by mosquitoes is dengue and
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| | and sewage systems, uncollected garbage,
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| it's found in over 40 countries. Since it
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| | and infrastructure projects with stagnant
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| first appeared in Southeast Asia in the
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| | pools. Mass transportation has made it
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| 1950s, dengue outbreaks have increased
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| | easier for mosquitoes to reach other
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| and have been reported in Indonesia,
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| | areas and move infected humans.
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| Malaysia, India, Burma, and Thailand.
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| | There are two forms of dengue. Dengue
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| Over 2.5 million people are at risk,
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| | fever is a severe flu-like illness that
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| according to the World Health
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| | affects older children and adults but is
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| Organization (WHO). Millions of
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| | rarely fatal. It's characterized by
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| infections occur yearly and about 500,000
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| | sudden high fever, headache, pain behind
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| people are hospitalized because of
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| | the eyes that worsens with movement, and
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| dengue. Ninety-five percent of those
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| | muscle and joint pains. Later, a
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| affected are children.
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| | measles-like rash appears on the chest
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| Not all mosquitoes transmit the dengue
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| | and upper limbs and there is nausea and
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| virus. There are over 160 different
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| | vomiting.
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| species but only two cause trouble: the
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| | The more severe form of the disease is
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| Aedes albopictus and more commonly, the
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| | dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) which is
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| Aedes aegypti. Only female mosquitoes
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| | fatal in children. Its symptoms are
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| bite and they're active two hours after
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| | similar to dengue fever but it causes
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| sunrise and two hours before sunset.
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| | bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums
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| Mosquitoes normally feast on nectar and
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| | and shock leading to death. Other signs
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| plant juices. The female needs blood to
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| | of DHF are severe stomach pain, pale,
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| nourish its eggs. It becomes infected
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| | cold or clammy skin, frequent vomiting,
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| with the dengue virus when it bites a
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| | sleepiness, excessive thirst, rapid weak
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| person suffering from the disease. The
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| | pulse, and difficulty in breathing.
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| infected mosquito then spreads the
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| | If you suspect you have dengue or DHF,
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| disease when it bites others.
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| | see a doctor immediately. Up to 20
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| "There is no way to tell if a mosquito is
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| | percent of people with severe dengue or
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| carrying the dengue virus, therefore
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| | DHF may die if not properly diagnosed and
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| people must protect themselves from all
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| | treated. To keep your body strong and
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| mosquito bites," warned WHO.
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| | healthy, eat right and follow a regular
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| Dengue mosquitoes like to hide in closets
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| | exercise program. To help you lose
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| and other dark places. Outside, they
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| | weight, take Phenocal, a safe, natural,
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| prefer cool and shaded areas such as
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| | and effective weight loss supplement that
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| school grounds, park, and malls. The
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| | boosts your metabolism, suppresses your
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| female breeds in anything that holds
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| | appetite, reduces food cravings, and
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| stagnant water like barrels, drums, old
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| | increases energy levels to keep you in
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| tires, pots, flower vases, bottles, roof
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| | shape.
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