It’s the school holidays and you can’t spend time with your children as you’re sick.

You have bad rashes all over your body and can’t sleep.

You can’t be there and help your wife, who is pregnant, to look after the home and family.

How would you feel, and what would you do if this happened to you?

fighting dengue Johnson Chee dengue storyJohnson Chee and his family. Photo courtesy of Johnson Chee.

This was what happened to Mr Johnson Chee, just one week before the school holidays.

Mr Chee, a PE teacher at a Primary School, started having high fever and developed rashes.

He went to the hospital and got a blood test done and it was confirmed that he had contracted dengue.

Dengue is an unpredictable disease – one cannot predict who will develop severe dengue also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can be life-threatening.

He was hospitalised for seven days and was on drips due to high fever. Mr Chee was not able to sleep as he developed intense rashes on his body, which caused much pain and discomfort. Acquiring dengue also triggered other health-related issues and affected his renal system.

Related Read: Fever in Children And When It Is A Concern

Generally, 1 in 5 people diagnosed with dengue in Singapore requires cost-intensive hospital care, which can cost an estimated US$3,167 per case.

While he was hospitalised, his wife, who was pregnant with the third child, had to take care of the other two young children on her own. He also had to miss the quality time that he could spend with his family as it was school holidays.

Today, the father of three religiously uses mosquito repellent and patches on his kids and on himself to prevent getting bitten by a mosquito.

preventing dengue fever aedes mosquito

In Singapore, the total number of dengue cases this year as of mid-April 2020 is close to 5,800, and with the usual peak period from May to September approaching, the 2020 dengue figure is projected to exceed 2019’s 16,000 cases. (Source)

Speaking about the pain he went through, Mr Chee said, “If there is a preventive measure such as a vaccine, I am willing to take it for himself and get my kids vaccinated so they do not have to experience the pain I went through.”

Related Read: Symptoms of Dengue Fever in Children

Dengue Infographic Singapore

Here are tips on how you can protect yourself and those around you from getting dengue.

1. Do The 5-Step Mozzie Wipeout 🦟🦟🦟

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been educating the community for a number of years about the 5 step Mozzie Wipeout to ensure we are not responsible for the breeding of Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

5 Step Mozzie WipeoutClick here to find out what are the steps to prevent dengue.

2. Always Keep An Insect Repellent Handy

The next time when you go to your neighbourhood playground with your kids or go outside near trees, remember to spray them with insect repellent or you can stick the mosquito repellent patch on their clothes to prevent mosquito bites.

TIGER BALM MOSQUITO REPELLENTS PATCHTiger Balm Mosquito Repellents Patch: Shopee

Related Read: What Will Keep Mosquitoes Away

3. Educate Your Kids On How To Prevent Dengue

As an adult, it is important for you to maintain good hygiene practices to keep dengue at bay but at the same time, it is essential as a parent to teach your kids the significance of dengue prevention and how it all starts at home.

Related Read: Conserve Water And Prevent Spread Of Dengue

4. Avoid Highly Populated Dengue Hot Spot Areas

venus loop windsor nature park

Avoid travelling to areas that have been classified as dengue hot spot by NEA. When taking the kids to the park or to the shopping mall, choose areas that have minimal exposure to insects and avoid walking along the drains that potentially could store water allowing for mosquito breeding.

5. Do Everything You Can To Prevent Dengue

Now you can further protect yourself against dengue. Talk to your doctor today. Share your protection and prevention tips against dengue!

Contrbuted by Sanofi Pasteur.

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