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.
At all times
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v Turn pails and watering cans over and store them under shelter.
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v 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.
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v Loosen soil from potted plants to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water on the surface of the hardened soil.
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v 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.
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v Cover rarely used gully traps. Replace the gully trap with non-perforated ones and install anti-mosquito valves.
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v Cover bamboo pole holders after use. Rainwater can potentially accumulate in these bamboo pole holders if they are uncovered and create a habitat.
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v 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.
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Every other day
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v 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.
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Once a week
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v 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.
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v Clear any stagnant water in your air cooler unit.
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Once a month
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v Add prescribed amounts of sand granular insecticide into vases, gully traps and roof gutters, even if they are dry.
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v Clear away fallen leaves in roof gutters and apron drains. If structurally feasible, remove the roof gutters.
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ADDITIONAL TIPS
Dengue can be a deadly disease once you contract the virus. To keep you and your loved ones safe, best to make sure your house is dengue-proof by following these simple steps:
1. Do not allow mosquitoes to breed. Stagnant water, or water that has been left to stand for more than 3 days, is a breeding ground for mosquitoes so it is important to clear stagnant water in places where water collects: drainages, flower pots, unused swimming pools, fountains, ponds, etc.
2. Ward off mosquitoes by lighting mosquito coils or lighting citronella-scented candles. Not fond of smoke? Electric mosquito repellant and topical insect repellant (sprays and lotions) are available in the market.
3. Block off mosquito entry points. Repair holes in window and door screens and use mosquito netting in the bedroom, especially around very young children.
4. Kill mosquitoes using electric mosquito killers or rechargeable insect swatters available at your local hardware. For greater effectivity, especially in extreme infestations, have your house fogged. Do-it-yourself insecticides are available commercially but professional services are also listed in the directory. Be sure fogging is done when no one is at home. Leave the house empty for several hours to allow the chemicals to settle.
Follow the anti-dengue tips above to keep the dengue virus away from your household. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
References:
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