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Dengue: Know the symptoms and how to protect yourself
24 November 2024
Dengue fever is spread through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. Dengue could lead to lethal health consequences for ourselves and those around us.

Know the symptoms
Here’s what dengue may look like:
sudden onset of fever lasting for 2-7 days.
nausea or vomiting
headache with pain behind the eyes
skin rashes
joint and muscle pain
mild bleeding (e.g. nose or gum bleeding)

Prevent mosquito breeding with B-L-O-C-K
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from dengue, is prevention.
The Aedes mosquito prefers to breed in clean stagnant water easily found in our homes.
"All it takes is clean, stagnant water as small in volume as the size of a 20-cent coin, for mosquitoes to breed."
- National Environment Agency (NEA)
Practise the B-L-O-C-K steps regularly to remove stagnant water at home.
Break up hardened soil
Lift and empty flowerpot plates
Overturn pails and wipe their rims
Change water in vases
Keep roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide
Protect yourself and others by practising S-A-W
Residents, especially those living in dengue cluster areas, should carry out the S-A-W actions to protect themselves from being bitten by the Aedes mosquito.
Spray insecticide in dark corners around the house.
Apply insect repellent regularly
Wear long sleeve tops and long pants
" Persons with dengue can help prevent further transmission by applying repellent regularly so that mosquitoes do not bite them and pick up the virus from them."
- National Environment Agency (NEA)
Individuals diagnosed with or suspected to be infected with dengue are also advised to avoid further mosquito bites, by using insect repellent and carrying out S-A-W actions, to prevent passing on the dengue virus to mosquitoes and other people in their neighbourhoods.
Our little actions in practising B-L-O-C-K and S-A-W steps can have a lethal impact on mosquitoes.