Cotonou - Post Report Question and Answers

Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?

Mosquitos! - Feb 2020


Mosquitoes are endemic. Bring or buy lots of repellent. Some houses have to be bombed occasionally for cockroaches but generally controls them reasonably well. - Aug 2018


Huge swarms of mosquitoes. Cockroaches. Mice. Lizards. - Jan 2017


My house and neighborhood were very severely infested with mosquitoes. - Oct 2015


Mosquitoes are a constant menace. We had our house exterminated before moving in and had no other insect problems. - Jun 2015


Mosquitoes. Lots of them. For a long while I was bitten fairly frequently, but I actually took my malaria meds pretty regularly, so I never contracted anything. There will also be ants in your house, without fail. Probably the occasional cockroach, too. And since most of the housing has excessively shoddy construction, you won't be keeping them out. - Aug 2014


LOTS of insect problems, from our experience: ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches. Thankfully, the locals sell mosquito "zappers". They reduce the annoyance of at least the mosquitoes. - Jul 2013


Mosquitoes are everywhere. Bring bug spray, and take your malaria meds. Ants and lizards can also be pesky and turn up in your house often. - May 2013


Roaches and mosquitoes everywhere. - Mar 2013


Mosquitoes are everywhere and flies can be annoying outside. Cotonou is a malaria post and you’ll either take malaria prophylaxis or you’ll get malaria. You may get malaria anyway. You’ll come to think of N,n-Diethyl Meta Toluamide* “DEET” as a fragrance. Most people have a chronic ant problem in the kitchen but few cockroaches. *Active ingredient in insect repellant. - Dec 2011


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