Dengue Cases Jumped 37% in a Year: Here’s How to Keep Students Safe as Schools Reopen
A new academic year is here, and schools are busy preparing for a smooth start. While we’re busy setting up our classrooms and lesson plans, how protected are your students and faculty against dengue?
Because according to NEA, dengue cases rose to 13,600 in 2024—a 37% increase from 9,949 cases in 2023. With schools reopening, administrators must take a proactive approach to protect students from dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
This blog breaks down what you need to know about dengue mosquitoes, what their bites look like, and what you can do to prevent them from taking a bite on your students.
Who, Where, When, and Why
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the main carriers of the dengue virus, and they thrive in urban areas. Before we dive deeper, let’s share insights about dengue mosquitoes.
Who bites?
Only female mosquitoes bite and spread dengue because they require blood meals to develop their eggs. Male mosquitoes, on the other hand, feed exclusively on nectar. While both sexes rely on nectar for sustenance, females seek blood to nourish their offspring.
When do they bite?
Dengue mosquitoes are most active during the day, with peak activity between 6 AM and 11 AM. This puts your students at risk during morning assemblies, outdoor play, or even in classrooms with open windows.
Where do they bite?
Dengue mosquitoes prefer biting exposed skin, particularly on ankles, legs, arms, and the back of the neck. They are drawn to body heat, making crowded classrooms, cafeterias, and playgrounds high-risk zones for mosquito activity.
Why Schools Need to Act?
Before and after school reopening is a critical time for mosquito control. During the holidays, stagnant water can accumulate, providing ideal breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes. Their eggs can hatch into adults within 7 days and survive for months in the dry season.
Identifying a Dengue Mosquito Bite Mark
Spotting a bite early can help schools take quick action if a student shows symptoms of infection. Dengue mosquito bite marks:
- Appear as small red dots or swollen bumps
- May have a white center surrounded by redness
- clustered together
- Don’t always itch immediately but may develop into painful welts
Dengue mosquito bites can be difficult to detect, so schools must stay vigilant for both bite marks and associated symptoms like fever, body aches, or rashes. If a student shows any of these signs, the school nurse should be notified immediately, and parents should be advised to monitor their child for potential dengue fever.
Preventing Dengue in Schools – Start by Eliminating Breeding Grounds
The most effective way to prevent dengue is to eliminate mosquito breeding sites—and it all comes down to 2 words: stagnant water.
Identify Breeding Grounds
Common areas where stagnant water can collect are drains, flower pots, containers, and roof gutters. But you should also pay attention to overlooked areas, like discarded bottles, clogged drainage systems, and structures with water-holding surfaces.
Eliminate them with the BLOCK Method
Once you know where to look, now is the time to act. Schools can use the BLOCK Method, as recommended by the National Environment Agency (NEA).
For comprehensive dengue prevention, schools should consider scheduling regular mosquito control to monitor mosquito activity and implement additional measures like fogging, larviciding, and residual spraying. This is where experts come in!
Our Expert Mosquito Management to protect your students
Our expert solutions target both mosquito larvae and adult mosquitoes, ensuring comprehensive protection for your school community.
Larviciding
Larviciding treats stagnant water with environmentally safe solutions that prevent mosquito larvae from maturing into adults. Our team applies targeted larviciding treatments in high-risk zones like drains and outdoor areas around your school.
Misting and Fogging
While larviciding deals with larvae, misting and fogging eliminate adult mosquitoes. Misting targets mosquitoes in shrubs, undergrowth, and shaded areas while fogging disperses into larger spaces such as campus grounds, landscaped areas, and playgrounds.
Holistic IPM Strategies
Our mosquito management isn’t just spray and walk away—most of the legwork is how we sustain your plan for long-term protection. This is the focus of PestBusters’ Integrated Pest Management:
- Education & Awareness – We train your staff on how to detect mosquito infestation.
- Regular Inspections & Monitoring – We identify breeding sites and monitor high-activity areas to implement targeted solutions right at the source.
- Sustainable Solutions – We integrate a combination of biological control and targeted treatment for a well-rounded protection.
Creating a Safer Space for Their Second Home
School is a second home for our students, and their safety and well-being is our number 1 priority. It’s our responsibility to create a healthy environment where they can learn, play, and grow—free from the threat of mosquito-borne diseases.
So act now and don’t wait for a dengue case to happen. Early intervention saves lives, especially those most vulnerable.
Need an expert inspection? Contact us today to learn more about our mosquito management services. Let’s give them a safe and healthy space for learning.