Mosquito nets, do I need to take one to Goa & Kerala

Ibizabum

We're going to India for the first time on 3 January, plan to stay in Goa for one month, and then may be Kerala for one month.

Would like to know if most budget/mid price beach hut type or hotel accommodation have nets?

The last time I went away for a budget long holiday was Thailand and I found accommodation really easy to find with nets.

Just wondered if it were the case in Goa/Kerala or whether its best to take a net.

Hope you can help.

Cheers

SANJAY_DEL

The Jan-Feb season is not the peak season for malaria, thankfully.
Many huts and hotels are equipped with nets.
Repellant creams like Odomos are widely available, that contain a chemical called DEET. Some herbal variants are there too.
Electronic plug-in devices like Good Knight are available off the shelf in stores.
Or burn a medicated coil like Tortoise.

Nick-H

There a mosquitoes every where, every season, especially down South where it never ever gets what a mosquito would call 'cold'.

If you want to be sure, take a net.

Or always stay in AC rooms and make sure the doors and windows stay shut at night and, preferably, you use one of those electric thingies to kill them off before bed.

__________________
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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Ibizabum

Cheers for your help.

I've been searching on eBay and I'm gonna buy one. I live in Spain and sleep every single day of the year under a net, feel naked without it, keeps every little creepie out!

Can't wait now to start packing!

drzog

seriously there hasnt been a malaria case in Goa for ages, Dengue fever however is always a possibility, but I hardly saw a mossie in 2 months during Jan/feb last year.
You can buy nets for 200rs at any local hardware shop, every village has one. most accomodations have them anyway however, just take some tape to cover any tears or holes.

I posted some time ago re non-DEET mosquito repellants, search for Geranium oil.

Good luck

__________________
yours in health

http://drzog.blogspot.com

cyberhippie

Malaria IS present in Goa, not all accomodations have a net in fact in my expereience very few do and you can't buy a net in every village apart from that I agree with drzog's assertions (sorry guy)

drzog

did we visit the same Goa?

i was referring more that tourists are at very low risk of malaria, unless you sleep in the forest.

look at the stats, thousands of Dengue cases every year, less than a handful Malaria


i am sure the prices on eBay arent 200rs

anjunaangel

mosquito nets are so cheap in goa that you may as well buy one when you get there it will be cheaper than taking one with you

SANJAY_DEL

You do not need to use nets at all.

Electronic mozzie busters are available everywhere.

A brand like "Good Knight".

These are devices that u just pug into an electric socket, the liquid gets dispersed in the room and the creatures stay away from you.

No need to cocoon urself in a net.

cyberhippie

Yeah I use these as well Sanjay but it appears that many like the coccoon of a net, as it also keeps out the other nasties!!

Nick-H

BUT....

--- They are not 100% effective.

--- Some people don't like sleeping in the fumes. I know it is an extreme case (extreme stupidity!) but a while ago some guy lit one of those coils in his car and shut all the windows. He was found dead in the car!

--- Many people in a non-AC room want or need to have some ventilation, so in come the mossies too.

I never travelled with a net, but I always stayed in AC rooms --- and got bitten.

There is no way I would sleep without a net here now: even with one they will find hand or foot against the net and bite through it.

cyberhippie

They work for me Nick and in variety of settings from three star to old room at the back of the house complete with ventilation between wall and roof!! So Plenty mozzies but no bites they also work for the Mrs.

The fumes they give off are hardly noticable and said to be harmless for humans!!

SANJAY_DEL

Mosquito repellents are useful for prevention of mosquito-borne diseases as well as painful or uncomfortable insect bites.
The 2 most effective and widely used products are N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet), which is applied to exposed skin, and Permethrin, which is applied to clothes.
Both are safe when used according to directions.
Other repellents, including a variety of plant-derived products, have also been used but generally have a weaker or shorter-lived repellent effect.

PREVENTION OF MALARIA AND OTHER INSECT-BORNE DISEASES

It is estimated that more than 30,000 American and European travelers develop malaria each year. The risk of malaria is highest in Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa (estimated at 1:5 and 1:50 per month of stay, respectively, among persons not using malaria prevention treatment and during the past decade has increased by more than 5 fold for travelers to Kenya.
The risk is intermediate for travelers to malarious areas in India (1:250 to 1:10,000 per month).
Chloroquin resistant malaria is becoming very common, adding to the problem.

Some basic precautions:

Personal protection measures against mosquito bites.
Especially at dusk and dawn.
Use of DEET containing insect repellents - Odomos.
Permethrin impregnated bed nets and clothing.
Screened bed rooms (windows with mesh nets, etc)
Protective clothing (full sleeves, jeans etc)
Dengue fever epidemic reported in India this year. Take similar precautions.
Meet your physician regarding use of malaria tablets.
Treatment is started one week before and continued till 4 weeks after leaving the malaria zone.
Mefloquin Doxycycline and Malarone are used. Chloroquin may not be effective. Your doctor will decide this for you.
Stay safe and enjoy your stay in India.


While you are indoors, as in your hotel room, you don't need to smear any creams at all. The electronic mozzie repellants like :: Good Knight :: are available in any major store. All you need is to plug it into the electric socket. Believe me, it works just fine.

Also very popular are mosquito coils. These are like incence sticks that u need to burn and the smoke will drive the creatures away.

While outdoors in the evenings, u cud apply a medicated cream like "Odomos", which can be had from any local chemist.

Malaria is not so common in winters in any case.

Nick-H

They are supposed (I thought) to kill or clear them out of the room, rather than act like a 'repellant' and confuse the buggers so they can't find you. --- Just checked: the ones I have in the cupboard,, both local and UK-bought, both liquid and tablet, say Mosquito Killer on them.

Check out yours and see if it is the same, if not I'm interested to know what type it is.

cyberhippie

Yep with extra MMR!! Nick