Dengue Prevention

What you need to know…

What is Dengue Fever?Dengue is a tropical disease caused by a virus and

transmitted to humans by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Dengue is also known as Dengue Fever or "break bone fever".  It’s the most common arbovirus

in the world.

Close-up of an Aedes mosquito

Aedes mosquito

Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Example of a Skin Rash due to Dengue Fever

Do you know…

Dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever are the most common mosquito-borne viral diseases in the world.

Only the female mosquito feeds on blood. This is because they need the protein found in blood to produce eggs. Male mosquitoes feed only on plant nectar.

The mosquito is attracted by the body odours, carbon dioxide and heat emitted from animal or humans.

The female Aedes mosquito searches for suitable places to lay their eggs.

Aedes are day-biters, most active during dawn and dusk.

Life cycle of the Aedes mosquito

How do Aedes mosquitoes transmit diseases…

The transmission cycle of dengue virus by the mosquito Aedes aegypti begins with a dengue-infected person. This person will have virus circulating in the blood—a viremia that lasts for about five days. During the viremic period, an uninfected female Aedes aegypti mosquito bites the person and ingests blood that contains dengue

virus; The mosquito then bites a susceptible person and

transmits the virus to him or her, as well as to every other susceptible person the mosquito bites for the rest of its lifetime.

How do Aedes mosquitoes transmit diseases…

This is what you can do to help…

Prevent mosquitoes from

Breeding!

Remove ALL sources of stagnant water.

Deny the Aedes mosquito of any chance to breed!

Potential Breeding Grounds

Common Mosquito Breeding Grounds

Artificial Containers (man-made): Flower vases and pot plates; Pails, water-storage jars,

basins; Discarded receptacles; Roof gutters; Gully traps; Unused toilet bowls and

cisterns; AC tray and dish rack tray; Concrete drains

Natural Containers: Tree Holes; Leaf axils, fallen leaves; Ground depressions;

All these sites require constant

inspection!

Potential Breeding Grounds

Flower Pots

Flower Pot Plates

Potential Breeding Grounds

Roof gutters

Gully Trap

Potential Breeding Grounds

Tree-holes Plant axils

To prevent Dengue…

To prevent the spread of dengue fever, you must first prevent the breeding of its vector, the Aedes mosquitoes.

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.

Easy steps to wipe-out the Aedes Mosquitoes

Change water in vases/bowls every other day;

Remove water from flower pot plates every other day, and add sand to the plates;

Turn over all storage containers; Remove stagnant water collected on leaves,

tree branches and in drains Clean roof gutters at least once a month;

How to prevent Mosquito Bites?

No vaccine is available; Use a mosquito repellant containing DEET; Dress in protective clothing – long-sleeved shirts, long

pants, socks and shoes; Because Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day,

be sure to use precautions especially during early morning hours before daybreak and in the late afternoon before dark.

Keep unscreened windows and doors closed. Keep window and door screens repaired.