Of course, to avoid dengue fever, you need to reduce your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes. Consider covering up with pants, jeans, socks and long-sleeved clothing, especially if you’re headed somewhere with tons of mozzies.

Keep a mosquito repellent at hand at give yourself a few good sprays, even at home. Choose one with at least 10 per cent diethyltoluamide (DEET), which is a substance that helps repel biting insects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DEET is safe to use on kids from two months of age, though you should be careful to avoid over-application.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also has some guidelines on mosquito repellents for young children. Repellents for young children should be kept to below 30 per cent DEET, and should only be applied to exposed skin and the outside of clothing – not under clothing. To prevent over-application, you should consider how long your kids will be outdoors. 10 per cent DEET will last about two hours, while 30 per cent DEET gives you about five hours of protection.

And it’s not just mosquito repellent you should be spraying. Adult mosquitoes rest in dark, humid places, so you’ll also want to spray insecticide around dark corners of the house every couple of days.

Heavily-scented perfumes, soaps and lotions are known to attract mosquitoes, so perhaps consider avoiding or using less of these things, especially if you know you live in a dengue cluster.

The dengue-carrying Aedes mosquito breeds in clean, stagnant water. And as most of the mosquito breeding sites in Singapore are in homes, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant. Do the NEA’s 5-Step Mozzie Wipe-out, which includes:

1. Changing the water in vases/bowls every other day.
2. Turn over water storage containers like buckets, pails, receptacles.
3. Cover bamboo pole holders when not in use.
4. Remove water from flower pot plates on alternate days and loosen soil to prevent puddles from developing.
5. Clear drain blockages and put BTI insecticide in roof gutters every month.

Install structural barriers on your windows that will effectively keep mosquitoes (and other pests) out, such as netting. Opt for those that have been treated with insecticides and are therefore much more protective as they don’t just prevent mosquitoes from coming in, but also kill them.

Besides helping you keep cool on warm, sticky nights, sleeping in a dry, air-conditioned room can also help keep the pesky mozzies at bay. If you’re sleeping without AC, consider surrounding your bed (or baby’s cot) with mosquito net.

You can opt for a dengue vaccine that’s been approved by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). It’s available for individuals between 12 and 45 years old, and seems to be highly effective for people who have had dengue before. However, do consult your doctor to find out if you’re suitable for the vaccine, as it may be dangerous for people who have never been infected.

Walk around any neighbourhood and you’ll notice the huge dengue banners lining walkways. These are the NEA’s dengue colour-coded alert system that indicate an active dengue cluster or a high number of Aedes mosquitoes, and the preventive measures you can take.

Here’s what each colour represents:

Purple Alert: High Aedes mosquito population in your neighbourhood.

Red Alert: More than 10 cases in your neighbourhood.

Yellow Alert: Less than 10 cases in your neighbourhood.

Green Alert: Remain vigilant.

Prevention is better than cure, but it’s equally as important to recognise the symptoms of Dengue so that you can seek medical help as soon as possible if you have it.

According to the Ministry of Health, the symptoms you should look out for are:

• Sudden onset of fever for two to seven days
• Severe headache with pain behind the eyes
• Joint and muscle pain
• Skin rashes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mild bleeding, like nose or gum bleed, or easy bruising

Additional Reporting: Jesslyn Lye, May 2022

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