Recently, there have been outbreaks of chikungunya fever in some cities in southern China, which have caused local transmission. In response to the current public concerns about the prevention and control of many mosquito borne infectious diseases, the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention has organized experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to provide authoritative answers. Topic 1: What is mosquito borne infectious disease? Answer: Mosquito borne infectious diseases refer to diseases that spread pathogens through mosquito bites. Among them, dengue fever, chikungunya fever, and Zika virus disease are three common viral mosquito borne infectious diseases that are widely prevalent worldwide. All three are mainly transmitted through the bites of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, and are not transmitted through daily contact or respiratory transmission. Dengue fever: caused by dengue virus, typical symptoms include high fever (up to 40 ℃), severe headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, and in severe cases, bleeding or shock may occur. Most dengue fever patients have mild or asymptomatic symptoms and will improve within one or two weeks. Chikungunya fever: caused by the Chikungunya virus, typical symptoms include sudden fever, often accompanied by severe joint pain, especially affecting small joints such as wrists, ankles, and toes. Skin rash, muscle pain, fatigue, etc. are also common. Most people recover within one or two weeks. Zika virus disease: caused by the Zika virus, about 80% of ordinary adults become asymptomatic after infection. A small number of people may experience mild symptoms such as low-grade fever, rash, and conjunctivitis, which usually self heal within one week. However, infections in pregnant women can pose significant health risks as the virus can infect the fetus through the placenta, leading to "microcephaly," abnormal development of the fetal head and brain, and other serious birth defects. Hotspot 2: Is there a specific drug or vaccine, and how to treat it? Answer: Currently, there are no vaccines or specific drugs available in China for these three diseases. In clinical practice, supportive treatment and mosquito isolation therapy are mainly adopted. Taking adequate rest, replenishing fluids, and taking over-the-counter painkillers (such as acetaminophen) can alleviate some symptoms of chikungunya fever. Experts emphasize that patients should not take aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) before ruling out dengue fever to reduce the risk of inducing dengue bleeding. Topic 3: How can individuals effectively prevent it? Answer: In terms of personal protection, try to create a safe "mosquito free space" for yourself. Mosquito prevention during outdoor activities: When engaging in outdoor activities, it is recommended to wear light colored long sleeved clothes and wear them. It is advisable to spray mosquito repellent or mosquito repellent flower water containing active ingredients such as mosquito repellent, mosquito repellent ester, hydroxypipette ester, and lemon eucalyptus oil on exposed skin areas and clothing, and use them according to the instructions. Accommodation environment needs protection: Priority should be given to accommodation places with screen doors and windows installed. Physical measures such as mosquito nets, electric mosquito swatters, or mosquito lamps can be used to prevent and kill mosquitoes, or chemical methods such as electric mosquito coils can be used to kill mosquitoes. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms appear: If symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain, etc. occur, seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of travel history and mosquito bite history, so that the doctor can diagnose and treat promptly and accurately, and implement mosquito isolation early to avoid transmission to family and friends. Hotspot 4: What to pay attention to when traveling abroad? Answer: Experts suggest that summer outbound travel should proactively understand the risks. Through the Internet, consulting customs or international travel health care center and other channels, we can learn about the occurrence of mosquito borne infectious diseases in the destination in advance and the prevention and control suggestions. Experts emphasize that pregnant women should try to avoid going to areas where the Zika virus is prevalent. Secondly, prepare sufficient protective equipment and commonly used medications in advance. Including mosquito repellent, mosquito nets, light colored long sleeved clothing, antipyretic and analgesic drugs, etc., for emergency use. Within two weeks after the trip, it is still necessary to prevent mosquito bites and conduct health monitoring. Once discomfort such as fever occurs, seek medical attention promptly. Topic 5: How can the public cooperate with local epidemic prevention and control measures? Answer: Proactively cooperate with the community to remove stagnant water containers and regularly clean mosquito breeding grounds. The main methods used include cleaning up hygiene blind spots, turning pots and cans, covering them, planting plants with sand or ceramic particles instead of hydroponics, dredging drainage ditches, and using mosquito and juvenile insecticides. Residents in epidemic areas need to strengthen personal protection when going out. Experts emphasize that the key to preventing and controlling the three mosquito borne infectious diseases lies in cutting off the "human mosquito human" transmission chain. At present, it is the active season of mosquitoes in summer, and the participation of the whole nation in mosquito prevention and control is the core measure to protect health. (New Society)