(Artikle dari Metro Harian, 21.12.2006)

BIARPUN hanya muncul dengan imej usahawan ‘sabun nyamuk', Sheryna tidak pernah gentar mempertaruhkan produk berkenaan di pasaran.Malah, wanita dari Perak ini menjana Herbal Soap (sabun herba) atau sabun mandian yang diorientasikan untuk menghalau nyamuk.

Ia yang dirumus khas daripada serai wangi adalah satu daripada sumbangan kecilnya untuk mengatasi masalah serangga. Beliau berkata, selain untuk mandian, sabun herba dwi-fungsi itu boleh diletak dalam bilik untuk menghalau serangga berkenaan kerana aroma yang dihasilkan menjadikan nyamuk sukar mendekati mangsa.

“Ketika bercadang menghasilkan produk ini, perkara pertama yang difikirkan ialah menjadi pengasas kosmetik. Apabila memikirkan ramai menceburi bidang ini, saya alihkan ke bidang pembuatan sabun halau nyamuk."Produk kosmetik berlambak di pasaran dan jika saya menggalas tugas itu, tentunya skopnya lebih kecil, padahal sasaran produk saya untuk semua pengguna, bukan terhad kepada wanita sahaja,” katanya.Peliknya, masalah denggi dan jangkitan nyamuk di negara ini serius. Justeru, beliau menubuhkan Unique Patra enam bulan lalu bagi merencanakan impian itu."Dalam proses pembuatannya, saya menggunakan herba seperti Aloe Vera kerana ia lebih baik untuk kulit.“Jika kerap menggunakan sabun untuk mandian, ia bukan saja mampu menghalau nyamuk bahkan boleh menghilangkan bau badan,” katanya.

Sheryna, kini memperhebatkan produknya dengan menghasilkan pencuci lantai herba anti nyamuk dan bakteria atau pencuci tandas yang dirumus daripada herba dengan membantu membunuh kuman dan menghalau nyamuk.Manakala, potpuri yang dihasilkan boleh dipelbagaikan sama ada sebagai haruman dalam kereta atau rumah.

“Usaha mempopularkan produk ini ialah dengan mempromosinya di jabatan kerajaan dan pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) seperti Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) dan Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ),” katanya.Hasil kegigihannya, Sheryna yang memiliki restoran Seraiwangi Teh Tiam di bandar Klang ini, gembira kerana produknya mendapat sambutan baik. Dalam perniagaan yang dijalankan, dia hanya melantik stokis dan menentukan jumlah tertentu yang sepatutnya mereka sasarkan. Dan, terserah kepada stokis untuk melantik pengedar atau ejen.

Sheryna yang berpengalaman luas dalam perniagaan butik dan kafe ini turut mengakui produk sabun keluarannya dikhususkan untuk orang kampung bagi menangani masalah nyamuk.“Namun, kebanyakan kes demam denggi turut menyerang kawasan bandar, justeru produk ini sesuai untuk semua,” katanya.

Mereka yang berminat mengenai produk itu boleh menghubunginya di: h/p: 016-3646436, tel/fax: 03-33411213.

(Artikle dari Sinar Harian, 19.07.2008)

(Artikle dari Sinar Harian, 13.02.2009)

Only female mosquitoes bite, and all mosquitoes live on the sugar found in plant nectar, not on blood. But there is a reason females seek blood.

Female mosquitoes, unlike males, have a proboscis. This is a long thin needle-like built-in syringe located at the mouth. They use this to impale their victims, in order to fill their abdomens with blood. Proteins in the blood are necessary to produce fertile eggs. Since males cannot produce eggs they have no need for blood. Females require a new blood 'meal' for every nest they lay, and produce about 250 eggs per meal.

Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water where they hatch into squirming larva. The larva molt four times before going into the next stage of pupa. Inside the hardened case of the pupa, the adult mosquito forms and eventually hatches.

Female mosquitoes live anywhere from one to several weeks depending on the species and the environment. Some females can survive the winter to lay eggs in the spring, before dying. Males generally live 4-5 days, and die after mating.

Mosquitoes have been evolving for 30 million years. During that time they've built an impressive array of sensory receptors. They possess chemical, visual, and heat sensors, all designed to zero in on a blood source.

The chemical sensory receptors are located on the antennae, which allow them to detect carbon dioxide. All mammals give off carbon dioxide, including humans. Our skin excretes the gas, as does our breath. A mosquito can detect this scent from 100 feet (30 meters) away.

When a mosquito bites it injects a small amount of saliva that thins the blood so it doesn't coagulate in the narrow channel of the proboscis. When it's done feeding, some of this saliva remains in the wound. This causes an immune system response and itching. A welt forms, known as a wheal, and the body goes to work breaking down the proteins from the saliva. The bite will continue to itch until the body has broken down all of the proteins.

Mosquitoes can carry diseases that can be transferred to humans through their bite (malaria, encephalitis, West Nile virus, Yellow and Dengue Fever). To keep the mosquito population down, avoid allowing standing water to collect. Flowerpots, trash lids -- anything deep enough to collect a puddle can be a breeding ground. Fountainless birdbaths or any other necessary standing water should be flushed with the hose every few days. If you have a fishpond the fish will eat the mosquito larva.

There are about 3,000 species of mosquitoes worldwide.

Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, their bites can cause serious complications including the transmission of diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, and West Nile virus (WN) to humans and animals. Mosquitoes belong to the Diptera order, otherwise known as the True Flies. There are over 2,500 different species of mosquitoes throughout the world.

While there are many ways to deter mosquitoes from biting you, some are more toxic than others. The following suggestions give you easy ways to repel these pests:

• Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets--just wipe on and go. This is great for babies.
• Supplement with one vitamin B-1 tablet a day. Add 100 mg of B-1 to a B-100 Complex daily during the mosquito season.
• Don't eat bananas during mosquito season - mosquitoes love bananas! There is something about how your body processes the banana oil that attracts these female sugar-loving insects.
• One of the best natural insect repellents is Vick's Vaporub®.
• Planting marigolds around your yard works great as a bug repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs do not like. This is a great way to ward off mosquitoes without using chemical insecticides.
• Campers agree that the very best mosquito repellant is Avon Skin-So-Soft® bath oil mixed half and half with rubbing alcohol.
• One of the best natural insect repellants is made from the clear liquid vanilla. It is reported to work great for mosquitoes and ticks, and spreading a little vanilla mixed with olive oil on your skin smells great.
• Commercial mosquito dunks will kill mosquito larvae before they become mosquitoes. There are fairly environmentally sound biological mosquito controls containing no toxic chemicals. Each dunk affectively treats up to 100 square feet of surface water regardless of depth for about 30 days. Dunks may be broken into smaller pieces to treat small areas. Unused and dried out dunks retain their potency indefinitely, so you can store extras for the long summer season. Put them in fountains, ponds, rain gutters, flowerpot trays, and anywhere water may pool.
• Lemongrass soap is a product very efficient. The soaps are made with palm oil for moisture and great lather, aloe vera to soothe the skin, and lemongrass oil to repel mosquitoes. For high intensity protection you can burn lemongrass incense. Mosquitoes avoid lemongrass and they hate the smoke.
• Lemongrass essential oil (Java Citronella) is considered to be the highest quality lemongrass on the market. The best quality is steam distilled from the grass giving it a fresh, sweet woody aroma. It blends well with geranium, cedar wood and other citrus oils. It is 100 percent pure essential oil - no additives, no dilutants, no adulteration, just safe mosquito repellent.
• Electronic repellents utilize one to two sound frequencies to simulate dragonflies and other male mosquitoes, creating a competitive environment for the blood-sucking female. These devices come with Velcro bands for wearing on your wrist or ankle, or on your pocket or belt. This makes for a versatile, compact unit that you can take anywhere for protection. Some units even have a built-in red flashlight for nighttime use.
• When all else fails - get a frog!

Most commercial insect repellants contain a chemical known as DEET and should be used with caution, if at all. Many studies have found DEET to have harmful effects. One study found that DEET causes diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats, and researchers suggest that humans may experience memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath with heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides.

Further, in combination with other chemicals or medications the chemicals could cause brain deficits in vulnerable populations. Children are particularly at risk for subtle brain changes because their skin more readily absorbs chemicals in the environment and chemicals more potently affect their developing nervous systems.

In the event that you choose to use DEET, although I strongly recommend against it, do not use the products on infants and be very wary of using them on children at all (at least make sure products for children contain 15 percent or less DEET). The following precautions were issued for repellents containing DEET:

• Store bottle out of the reach of children and read all instructions on label before applying.
• Do not let children apply DEET themselves because they may put them in their mouths or touch their eyes.
• Avoid prolonged and excessive use of DEET. Use sparingly to cover exposed skin; do not treat unexposed skin.
• Do not apply repellents in enclosed areas. This is especially important when using sprays or aerosols.
• Do not apply directly on face.
• DEET can be applied to clothing, but may damage some synthetic fabrics and plastics.
• Wash treated skin and clothing after returning indoors.
• If you believe you are having an adverse reaction to a repellent containing DEET, wash the treated area immediately and call your physician.