How can I avoid being bitten alive by flying bugs?

Flying insects can ruin an expedition. From the Congo to Greenland there are horror stories of swarms of insects descending upon expeditions and being relentless in their pursuit of blood. Many are not only annoying but also dangerous as they are often the vectors for more unpleasant diseases. Malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue, to name only a few.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY!! The female mosquito, which is the vector for malaria, predominantly satisfies its craving for blood at dawn and dusk. Hence taking particular precautions at these times of day is prudent.

The sand fly is prevalent as the name suggests in sand, and is not a robust flier, and tends not to bite animals more than a foot off the ground, so sleep in a hammock.

The mosquito responsible for dengue bites predominantly during the day, so cover up in the day if dengue is endemic. Advice related to specific vectors can be found on the travax website or www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk

There is nothing better than long sleeves and long trousers to avoid being bitten. Some very light clothing is now available so mummification is not required. Suits made out of parasilk called zoot suits were very popular in the jungles of Central American some years ago. Head nets attached to hats are invaluable, you can sit and relax as your friends either chain smoke or are driven insane.

DEET is currently the only valuable insect repellent I am aware of being of any value. I'm sure there are views on citronella and tea tree. I tried them both on the Zambezi several years ago and found them less of a deterrent than DEET. DEET will destroy and stain clothing if you use it for prolonged periods. I normally put it on my wrists, ankles, neck and face, and on boots (it is fantastic for dissuading leeches.

There are insecticides available with which you can impregnate your clothing and nets before embarking on your expedition. Permethrin impregnation lasts between 4-6 months. It is an unpleasant job and will stain clothing. It has also been linked to lung cancer and hence facemasks are obligatory when impregnating. Despite this I personally feel this is a necessary task, some people aren't as diligent with there personal care as others. If all else fails take up smoking and travel with someone who gets bitten worse than you.