Remove Mosquito Breeding Places Early
BACOLOD - One of the simplest ways to begin preventing dengue is to regularly inspect the areas around your home for containers that can collect water. Buckets, flowerpot saucers, discarded tires, bottles, cans, roof gutters, and other containers can become potential breeding sites when they hold stagnant water. Emptying and cleaning these containers regularly can help prevent mosquitoes from completing their breeding cycle. Water-storage containers should also be properly covered when they are not being used. Making a weekly inspection part of the household routine can help catch potential breeding areas before they become a larger problem.
Protect Yourself From Mosquito Bites
Removing breeding sites is important, but preventing mosquito bites provides another layer of protection. Use mosquito repellent according to its label instructions and consider wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when practical. Screens on windows and doors can help keep mosquitoes outside, while mosquito nets can provide additional protection for people sleeping during the daytime. This is particularly useful because Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors of dengue, are capable of biting during daylight hours.
Make Dengue Prevention a Community Habit
Dengue prevention becomes more effective when households work together. Mosquito breeding sites can exist outside an individual home, including in shared yards, drainage areas, vacant lots, and other places where water accumulates. Communities can regularly clean their surroundings, dispose of waste properly, and report areas where stagnant water cannot easily be removed. Families should also remain alert for dengue symptoms such as fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, or rash. Anyone who develops symptoms should seek medical advice, while warning signs such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, difficulty breathing, or unusual weakness require urgent medical attention.
