As we experience the current warmer season (which is said to last all the way to October!), you might notice an increase of those pesky mosquitoes.
In fact, the warmer weather brings about a peak mosquito breeding season and this means it’s more important now than ever to stay aware and protected against mosquito-borne diseases.
And unfortunately, we are seeing the Zika and dengue situation in Singapore escalating. In 2022, there were only two Zika cases detected in Singapore, with the number of Zika cases found in Singapore in 2023 shooting up to 15 in the first five months. The dengue situation in Singapore is also not to be taken lightly with 279 weekly cases in the first week of 2023 which is the second highest for the first week in the last five years.
When it comes to mosquito-borne diseases, prevention is better than treatment, with some easy steps that you can take. To gear yourself for the warmer months, Income Insurance shares 3 easy ways to STAY protected from the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
Stay alert
It’s important to stay alert and be prepared to fight back against this invisible enemy. As there’s no such thing as being overprepared when it comes to protecting yourself from mosquito-borne diseases.
Regularly assess the mozzie situation at your home and workplace by asking yourself these 3 questions:
- Have you done the Mozzie Wipeout?
- Is your home in a dengue hot-zone?
- Are you equipped for battle with the mozzies?
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Have you done the Mozzie Wipeout?
Mosquito control is the key to dengue and Zika prevention. Ensure that you perform the Mozzie Wipeout at least once a week with BLOCK, an easy 5 step method by NEA that you can use to prevent mosquito breeding. |
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 (NEA Dengue Live Cluster Map) |
Is your home in a dengue hot-zone?
Based on the dengue cluster figures as reported by NEA in late June, the most predominant dengue cluster is in Toa Payoh which has grown in late June, increasing the dengue cases by 35 per cent in a week. To find out the alert levels of dengue in your area, you can regularly check for dengue clusters or high mosquito population near your homes through NEA’s website or myENV app by NEA. There are 3 alert levels categorised by case numbers which can help you determine the severity of dengue situation in your area.
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Are you equipped for battle with the mozzies?
You should protect yourself with multiple lines of defence. Besides doing the Mozzie Wipeout, you can combat them with tools that helps repel mosquitoes which can be easily found online and in stores.
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UV Mosquito lamp
UV mosquito lamps are devices that uses UV light and heat to attract mosquitoes to a grid that electrocutes them. |
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Electric Swatter
Electric swatter is a handheld device shaped like a tennis racket with a metal grid charged with high-voltage electric current. When an insect comes into contact with the electric grid, it’s killed almost instantly. |
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Insect Repellent Patch
An insect repellent patch is a product that can stick onto your skin and clothes to prevent mosquitoes from coming near you by releasing a substance that can repel insects. These substances interfere with the insects’ ability to detect your body heat, carbon dioxide, and sweat, making you less attractive to them. |
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Mosquito Coil
A mosquito coil is an incense that repels mosquitoes through the release of smoke that contains insecticides or natural substances. |
Stay informed
Dengue and Zika symptoms can be easily confused with other diseases, so you have to be aware of the symptoms and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the symptoms below.
| Symptoms | Dengue | Zika | COVID-19 | Common Flu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever
|
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Headaches
|
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dry Cough
|
✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Skin Rash
|
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mild Bleeding
|
✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
Even though there is no specific treatment for dengue and Zika, with early detection, you would be able to get the necessary treatment required to prevent the worsening of symptoms.
Stay insured
As the situation for mosquito-borne diseases continue to escalate, it is important to ensure that you are adequately insured to weather the mozzie storm as part of a preventive healthcare measure.
While most dengue fever may be mild, some extreme cases can be life-threatening and may require hospitalisation. The total cost of medical treatments can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the individual case and the type of healthcare provider.
Income Insurance recommends having adequate insurance coverage to relief yourself from the financial burden of mosquito-borne diseases and avoid using savings for medical bills especially for severe Dengue and Zika cases that require hospitalisation and costly treatments.
For instance, Income Insurance’s PA Assurance lets you enjoy 4 key personal accidental benefits – Accidental Death, Permanent Disability, Medical Expenses and Hospital Income in the event of an accident or due to a covered infectious disease, from just $68.63/year.
You can get covered against 7 Infections Diseases, including Dengue Fever and Zika virus. You get to enjoy the flexibility to choose from either an individual, couple or family plan that suits your needs as well.
While Singapore has stayed hyper-vigilant on COVD-19’s safety measures, it is important not to lose sight of other big health threats here.
With mozzie-season incoming, it is necessary to take the extra steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. As the adage goes, prevention is better than treatment. But it is always important to have a backup plan for unforeseen circumstances.
Images: Envato (header), NEA and Income Insurance
