Stop Dengue Before It Spreads

Dengue is spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes 🦟 biting people. It does not spread person-to-person. These mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water around homes, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

Fogging alone cannot stop dengue; we must remove mosquito breeding places every week!

• Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean or dirty standing water 💧 even tiny amounts.
• Fogging only kills adult mosquitoes, not eggs or larvae.
• A simple 10-minute check once a week protects your entire family and island community!

Seek medical help right away 🏥 if fever comes with any of these dangerous signs:

• 🤮 Severe vomiting
• 🩸 Unexplained bleeding
• 😣 Severe stomach pain
• 😴 Extreme tiredness or unusual sleepiness
• 🫁 Difficulty breathing

Do not wait, early treatment saves lives!

• 🔍 Search: Check inside and outside your home weekly for standing water. Look at buckets, old tires, bottles, plant pots, coconut shells 🥥, blocked gutters, and drains—especially after heavy rain.
• 🔒 Secure: Empty, scrub, turn over, cover, or throw away water containers. Keep water tanks tightly sealed. Mosquitoes lay eggs on the inner sides of containers, so scrubbing is vital!
• 🔄 Sustain: Make a weekly 10-minute dengue check a regular family habit.
• 🛡️ Protect: Use bed nets 🛌, door screens, long clothing, and mosquito repellent where available. Take extra care to protect babies, pregnant women, older adults, and the sick.
• 🏥 Seek Care: If anyone develops a fever, go to a health clinic immediately.

🦟 Transmission & Breeding

• Q: How does dengue spread?
  A: Dengue spreads when an infected Aedes mosquito bites a person. It is not spread through casual human contact.
• Q: Can dengue mosquitoes breed in clean water?
  A: Yes. Dengue mosquitoes can breed in clean standing water, including buckets, tanks, flower pots, gutters, and small containers.

🏡 Weekly Actions & Community Protection

• Q: What should families do every week?
  A: Take 10 minutes to search for standing water, empty and scrub containers, cover water storage tightly, turn over unused items, dispose of waste, and keep drains clear.
• Q: Who should be protected most carefully from bites?
  A: Everyone should be protected (using nets, screens, and long clothing), with special attention to babies, children, pregnant women, older people, and those who are already unwell.
• Q: Why are teams checking containers around my house?
  A: Dengue mosquitoes often breed in small amounts of water around homes. Public health teams visit to help identify breeding spots and advise you on how to manage them.

💨 Fogging, Spraying & Larvicides

• Q: Is fogging or spraying enough to stop dengue?
  A: No. Spraying and fogging only knock down adult mosquitoes for a short time—they do not kill eggs or larvae. Removing breeding sites every week is still essential.
• Q: Why treat some water instead of emptying it?
  A: Some water storage sites cannot be emptied or covered immediately. Trained teams may apply approved larvicides to stop mosquitoes from maturing in those containers.
• Q: Can community volunteers spray or apply larvicide?
  A: No, unless officially trained and authorized. Volunteers should focus on community education, mapping, household checks, and reporting problem sites to authorities.
• Q: What should we do before planned spraying?
  A: Follow official instructions from health teams. Ask questions if anything is unclear, and keep vulnerable people away from the immediate area if advised.
• Q: What should we do after spraying?
  A: Continue weekly checks, eliminate standing water, and report large breeding sites that your household cannot manage alone.

🚨 Emergency Symptoms

• Q: When should someone seek health advice?
  A: Seek medical care immediately if a fever is accompanied by any warning signs: vomiting, bleeding, severe stomach pain, extreme tiredness, difficulty breathing, or unusual sleepiness.

Dengue spreads through mosquito bites, not casual human contact. Always share trusted health advice from your local health workers and community leaders to keep everyone safe.

Take 10 minutes today to protect your family! #StopDengue 💪🌴