Dengue Prevention Checklist

To prevent the spread of dengue fever, you must first prevent the
breeding of its vector, the Aedes mosquito. The Aedes mosquito is easily
identifiable by its distinctive black and white stripes on their body. It prefers
to breed in clean, stagnant water easily found in our homes. You can get rid
of the Aedes mosquito by frequently checking and removing stagnant water
in your premises.

The guidelines below will give you an overview of how you can prevent
the Aedes mosquito from breeding.

For residents in HDB and condominiums

For residents in landed homes
Dengue Prevention slides

At all times
Turn pails and watering cans over and store them under shelter.

Remove water in plant pot plates. Clean and scrub the plate thoroughly to remove
mosquito eggs. Avoid the use of plant pot plates, if possible.

Loosen soil from potted plants to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on the
surface of the hardened soil.

Do not block the flow of water in scupper drains along common corridors in HDB
estates. Avoid placing potted plants and other paraphernalia over the scupper drains.

Cover rarely used gully traps. Replace the gully trap with non-perforated ones and install
anti-mosquito valves.

Cover bamboo pole holders after use. Rainwater can potentially accumulate in these
bamboo pole holders if they are uncovered and create a habitat.

No tray or receptacles should be placed beneath and or/ on top of any air-conditioning
unit so as not to create a condition favourable for mosquito breeding.

Every other day

Change water in flower vases. Clean and scrub the inner sides of vases. Wash roots of
flowers and plants thoroughly as mosquito eggs can stick to them easily.

Once a week
Clear fallen leaves and stagnant water in your scupper drains and garden. These leaves
 could collect water or cause blockages to the drains, thus resulting in the buildup of
stagnant water.
.
Clear any stagnant water in your air cooler unit.

Once a month
Add prescribed amounts of sand granular insecticide into vases, gully traps and roof
gutters, even if they are dry. You can see the list of retailers who carry sand granular
insecticides in their stores at this webpage: http://www.nea.gov.sg/aedes/insecticides

Clear away fallen leaves in roof gutters and apron drains. If structurally feasible, remove
the roof gutters.

1. What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus which can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The
incubation period of dengue fever normally ranges from between 3 to 14 days.

2. What is dengue haemorrhagic fever?

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue and can be fatal if unrecognised or not treated.

3. How is dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever spread?

Dengue is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are infected when they take a blood meal
from a dengue-infected person. The virus does not spread from human-to-human.

4. Can dengue be spread from person to person?

Dengue fever cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is only transmitted/spread to humans by the bite of an an infected
Aedes mosquito. A mosquito is infected when it takes take blood meal from a dengue-infected person. The virus does not spread
from human-to-human.

5. When do the symptoms start to appear?

After the person is infected with the virus, there is generally an average of 4-7 days of incubation before the onset of symptoms.

6. What are the common symptoms of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever?
Dengue fever is characterized by the sudden onset of fever, (which can last up to 7 days) and is accompanied by intense headache
body aches, joint pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and the development of skin rashes. A blood test will often show low
platelets.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever presents similarly to dengue fever but is associated with more severe bleeding problems (e.g. gum
bleeding, nose bleeding and bleeding into the skin and internal organs) along with evidence of plasma leakage.
7. Can people suffer from Dengue and not appear ill?
Yes. Dengue infection without obvious symptoms tend to occur more frequently in children. Dengue infection in adults are more
likely to be symptomatic.

8. Is there any treatment for dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever?

There is no specific treatment for dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever. However, supportive care with intravenous fluids and
frequent blood test monitoring reduces complications of the disease. In severe cases, blood transfusions may be required.

9. Can dengue fever or dengue haemorrhagic fever lead to death?

Yes. Death can occur in a small minority of persons especially if the infection is not recognized early or early treatment is not
sought.

10. How to prevent dengue fever from spreading?

Dengue fever can be prevented through measures to prevent mosquito breeding around the house and to protect against mosquito
bites. More information about the prevention of mosquito breeding can be found here.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) ensures quality environmental health, and public can report to NEA (1800-2255 632
or Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg) about potential mosquito breeding sites.

Precautions include wearing long-sleeved clothes, using mosquito coils and electric vapour mats, and using insect repellent over the
exposed parts of the body.

Adoption of good daily habits such as clearing blockages from the roof gutter, clearing leaves and stagnant water from drains,
removing water from potted plants daily, avoiding the use of pot plates and changing the water in vases everyday will also help to
eliminate the chances of mosquito breeding.

11. Is there a vaccination against dengue?

There is currently no vaccines available that can prevent dengue.

12. If I caught dengue fever before , will I be infected again?

There are 4 strains of dengue viruses. Infection with one strain will provide protection against only that particular strain. Future
infection by other strains is possible.

13. Will I have to be hospitalised if I come down with dengue fever?

Hospitalisation is recommended for patients who have severe symptoms, and for patients with signs (eg, low platelet counts) that
may lead to haemorrhage (internal bleeding).

14. My neighbour is down with dengue fever, what should I do to protect my family?
The best protection against dengue is to guard against mosquito bites and to ensure no mosquitoes are breeding in your home. For
more information on prevention of dengue, please refer to the following website: http://www.dengue.gov.sg
15. Is Singapore experiencing a dengue epidemic?
The dengue situation in Singapore coincides with a general upsurge of dengue cases in the region, and many other countries
elsewhere. Dengue is, however, under control in Singapore as the country has put in place rigorous control measures. Life
continues as per normal here.

16. I have low platelet count because of dengue fever. What is the normal platelet when I recover?
A normal platelet count would range from about 140 to 440 platelets x 10 9 /Litre, or about 140,000 to 440,000 platelets in
each microlitre of blood. Each lab may differ slightly.

Current hospital guidelines allow patients who are recovering well and have a rising platelet trend or platelet above 70,000 to be
discharged.

Lifecycle of Aedes Mosquito

Under optimal conditions, the egg of an Aedes mosquito can hatch into a larva
in less than a day. The larva then takes about four days to develop in a pupa,
from which an adult mosquito will emerge after two days. Three days after the
mosquito has bitten a person and taken in blood, it will lay eggs, and the cycle
begins again.
Fast facts about the mosquito
• Only the female aedes mosquito bites as it needs the protein in blood to
 develop its eggs.
• The mosquito becomes infective approximately 7 days after it has bitten
a person carrying the virus. This is the extrinsic incubation period,
during which time the virus replicates in the mosquito and reaches the
salivary glands.
• Peak biting is at dawn and dusk.
• The average lifespan of an Aedes mosquito in Nature is 2 weeks
• The mosquito can lay eggs about 3 times in its lifetime, and about 100
eggs are produced each time.

• The eggs can lie dormant in dry conditions for up to about 9 months,
after which they can hatch if exposed to favourable conditions, i.e. water
and food

Potential Breeding Sites

Usual Mosquito Breeding Sites
Unusual Mosquito Breeding Sites
Prevention Tips

Hotline: 1800-X-DENGUE (1800-933 6483) or 1800-333 77

Email: dengue@nea.gov.

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