With the start of the Northeast Monsoon season, which is expected to extend into March 2022, we need to remain vigilant in preventing dengue here in Singapore as there’s still no cure for dengue. So, there is still a risk of contracting the virus.
Besides, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has reported that the Aedes aegypti mosquito population in Singapore grew by 22 per cent in September 2021, as compared to August 2021 this year. If this doesn’t scare you into practising all the dengue prevention methods at home or wherever you are, just know that dengue remains a serious health threat to many of us.
If you are wondering how you can protect your family from dengue and what are the preventive measures you should take to prevent dengue here in Singapore, you have come to the right place because we will discuss some of the things you can do to protect you and your family.
How can I protect my family from dengue?
Protecting your family from dengue begins with prevention. This is because dengue viruses are spread through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is the primary dengue vector in Singapore.
When an Aedes mosquito bites a person who has been infected with a dengue virus, the mosquito can become a vector. If this mosquito bites another person, that person can become sick with dengue fever.
In some cases, dengue fever can lead to a more serious form of the disease known as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which can be life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.
As we continue to work from home during this period, the need to remain vigilant in preventing dengue here in Singapore is necessary as there will be more blood meals for this mosquito species. Here’s what you can do to protect your family from dengue:
- Practice the Mozzie Wipeout ‘B-L-O-C-K’
There are several steps to practising the Mozzie Wipeout as suggested by the NEA. This includes breaking up hardened soil, lifting and emptying flowerpot plate(s), overturning pails and wiping their rims, changing the water in vases, and keeping roof gutters clear and placing BTI (Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis) insecticide.
By practicing the steps above, you are preventing Aedes mosquitoes from breeding in and around your house. Consequently, you are reducing the chances of mosquito bites among your family.
- Practice ‘Spray, Apply, Wear’ or ‘SAW’ against dengue
If the Mozzie Wipeout is meant to help tackle mosquito breeding grounds, SAW is meant for you and your family members to be proactive in preventing mosquito bites to break dengue transmission. This is highly encouraged if you are residing in dengue cluster areas.
By spraying insecticide in dark corners around your house, applying insect repellent regularly, and wearing long-sleeve tops and long pants while at home, you are protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites.
What other measures can I take to prevent dengue?
Aside from practicing the Mozzie Wipeout and SAW actions, you should consider the following measures to keep your house mosquito-free, especially if you are planning to go on vacation or staycation during the upcoming holiday season.
- Cover all the toilet bowls and floor traps in your house to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in them. The stagnant water in the toilet bowls and floor traps make them the ideal breeding grounds.
- Add sand granular insecticide to possible breeding areas, especially in areas where stagnant water cannot be removed. This will limit their breeding grounds and keep them away from your home.
- Remove debris and blockages in drains as these can cause drain water to remain stagnant in one place, which eventually provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Ask a relative or close friend to check your home regularly for stagnant water, especially if you are going away for a long time. This will ensure that your home doesn’t become a mosquito breeding ground while you’re away.
- Install mosquito screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
What precautions should I take if someone shows symptoms suggestive of dengue?
While dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection, the virus cannot be spread directly from person to person. But this doesn’t mean that you should be negligent as severe dengue fever can be fatal.
If you or any of your family members display symptoms suggestive of dengue, seek immediate medical attention to facilitate recovery and prevent further transmission within the household by applying mosquito repellent regularly.
The following are symptoms suggestive of dengue:
- Sudden onset of fever for 2-7 days
- Severe headache with some pain behind the eye
- Joint and muscle pain
- Rashes on skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bleeding nose or gums
- Skin bruises easily
How else can I protect my family from dengue?
Other than the preventive measures above, you can engage professional pest control like PestBusters to tackle the threat posed by mosquitoes, even for prevention of infestation. After all, they are experts in providing effective mosquito control.
The integrated pest management programme is designed to strike out and fully eliminate mosquitoes from your house. Among the strategies that PestBusters employ to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds are larviciding, BTI (Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis) and misting.
For indoor purposes, we harness the use of BTI, a biological agent that is specially formulated to eliminate mosquito larvae within 2 to 24 hours. We will first spray the substance into stagnant waters where the larvae are found. Once the larvae ingest the agent via filter-feeding, their guts will be destroyed and die within a day. You can rest assured that this agent is harmless to humans.
Don’t wait too long to contact us as you may prolong the chance of mosquitoes breeding in and around your house. Contact us at (+65) 6288 2828 or 24-hour response line (+65) 9180 9990 today for an effective mosquito pest control!