There’s dengue clusters popping up across the country (119 active clusters , to be exact). And with a total of 12,539 dengue cases reported in Singapore so far this year, we have to take the necessary precautions to protect our families from dengue fever. Besides getting rid of stagnant water in all the usual spots, here are some products that we found helpful with getting rid of mosquitoes. Scroll below to see our recommendations, from natural mosquito repellents to mosquito traps that will zap those pesky bloodsuckers in an instant!
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What you need to know about dengue fever
Dengue is spread to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. If the mosquito takes a bite from a dengue-infected person, it becomes infective after an extrinsic incubation period of eight to 12 days. The mosquito can effectively spread dengue fever for the rest of its lifespan. When a person is infected, they may develop symptoms after an incubation period of four to ten days. Symptoms include sudden fever, severe headaches, and joint and muscle pain.
As we enter the warmer months of the year, the breeding and maturation cycle of the Aedes mosquito accelerates, thereby increasing your chances of getting infected.
“To add fuel to this fire, a higher than usual rainfall and deserted construction yards due to the circuit breaker had resulted in pools of stagnant water that serve as effective breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito,” says Dr Tan Kok Kuan, from Dr Tan & Partners Clinic.
He also cautions of a shift in the strain of dengue this year: “[It’s shifted] from the usual strain 2 to strain 3. The population is more susceptible to strain 3 dengue as they have not been exposed to it.”
Mosquito-repelling products to keep your family safe:
This multi-tasking air purifier can perform three major tasks: purify indoor air, reduce bacteria and viruses (including coronaviruses) with SHARP’s patented Plasmacluster™ Technology, and trap mosquitoes. The trap consist of a UV light that attracts those pesky bloodsuckers, and has a suction near the entrance that will suck the mosquitoes in, causing them to be trapped on the strong glue sheet in the device. Nifty, eh?
OK first of all, how pretty does this electric mosquito swatter look? It even comes with an LED light, which definitely will come in handy when you hear that annoying buzz after you’ve tucked yourself into bed.
These mosquito repellent patches are perfect for those who are on-the-go. Stick one on yourself before heading out to run errands, or stick one on your kids before sending them to school. The formula uses citronella oil and is DEET-free, offering you and your family natural protection from dengue.
So this isn’t the most aesthetically-pleasing of options, but according to user reviews, it really works. It covers up to 30 square meters, and kills mosquitoes (and other bugs) immediately upon contact. You can mount this on the wall, have it suspended from the ceiling, or leave it free standing.
Not a fan of how mosquito repellent smells? Try the MOZBYE mosquito repellent bracelet instead. It uses high-frequency, unobtrusive sound waves to create a sonic barrier that keeps mosquitoes away from you and your loved ones. It’s also lightweight and waterproof, which is perfect for active kids!
Keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay with Wishbone Handmade Boutique’s eucalyptus mosquito repellent, which is concocted with a natural formula to effectively repel insects.
Made with beeswax, shea butter, citronella and lemongrass oil, this balm is an organic mosquito repellant that you can safely apply on your loved ones.
You can’t get dengue from your beloved pooch, since the virus is only passed between mosquitoes and humans, but there’s research that shows that dogs can be infected with dengue virus strains. While it hasn’t been proven that dogs can be incidental hosts of dengue or harbor the virus, this bug-repelling collar can give you a peace of mind.
Prices are accurate as of Jun 25, 2020. All products are carefully handpicked by our editors, and we may earn money from links on this post.
Text: Sophie Hong