It can be a little concerning to watch the sharp rise in dengue fever cases this year. Over 8,000 people have been infected since the start of the year – that already exceeds the 5,258 cases reported throughout 2021. As of May 17 2022, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reported 300 active clusters across Singapore.
According to a Straits Times report, this is particularly worrying as we haven’t hit the traditional peak dengue fever season between June and October yet.
A stronger virus and lower immunity levels can increase the risk of severe dengue, which can damage the liver, heart and lungs, and might lead to death. What’s also worrying is the fact that the outbreak isn’t localised to one particular area in Singapore, but a general uptick in dengue cases islandwide. This means that it’s important to be vigilant now more than ever, especially if you live with higher-risk individuals like young children and elderly folk who have lower immunity levels.
But before you panic, here are nine key ways you can keep yourself and your loved ones protected from the outbreak: