Repel

Outbreaks of Dengue fever are now very common in Singapore. As mentioned in our previous blog post, 2020 charts a record high of the number of Dengue cases in Singapore’s history. As of 9 June, thereare a total of 10 000 cases which 190 active dengue cases according to the NEA officials.

What made Singapore a common target?

Dengue is a tropical disease that is caused and transmitted through mosquitoes. Singapore’s hot and humid climate makes it a paradise for mosquito breeding. The perspiration from humans due to the heat further attracts mosquitoes thus increasing the risk of contracting Dengue.

All though, the threat of Dengue in Singapore is all year round. In recent years, the two most significant Dengue outbreaks occurred at the beginning of the year 2016 and around halfway through the year 2019 and in 2020, it spiked at an all time high.

Common symptoms of Dengue Fever

If you are infected with Dengue fever, you may only show few or no signs of the disease. This is called asymptomatic. Some people may experience symptoms a few days after they’ve been bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.

Common symptoms

• Recurring fever
• Pain behind the eyes
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Bone pain
• Severe headache
• Skin rash with red spots

Refer to previous blog post for more symptoms: https://theo10.com/biggest-dengue-fever-outbreak-in-singapore/

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (Dengue Shock Syndrome)

According to CDC (Centre of Disease Control and Prevention), Some patients with dengue fever go on to develop dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a severe and sometimes fatal form of the disease. Around the time the fever begins to subside (usually 3–7 days after symptom onset), the patient may develop warning signs of severe disease. 

Symptoms of DHF includes:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Convulsions
• Bruising
• Uncontrolled bleeding

The patient also may have early signs of shock, including restlessness, cold clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, and narrowing of the pulse pressure.

Transmission of Dengue

Dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The most common mode of transmission starts when an Aedes mosquito bites an infected person who has the virus. The virus then undergoes an extrinsic incubation period in the mosquito for 8-12 days before granting the mosquito the ability to transmit the virus for the rest of its life. The infectious mosquito then transmits the virus to humans via its bite. 

The intrinsic incubation period in humans can take up to 10 days and the infected human will begin to show symptoms of the disease.

Control of Dengue in Singapore

The control of Dengue focuses on reducing the number of mosquito vectors. The control methods can be categorized into 4 main groups, namely cultural control, physical control, chemical control and biological control.

The NEA has been promoting the Mozzie Wipeout campaign as a form of cultural control. It encourages the public to eliminate all potential mosquito breeding sites and make the environment less suitable for the mosquitoes’ survival. 

An example of physical control is the placement of gravitraps (and its predecessor ovitraps) to trap gravid mosquitoes.

Chemical control is the most common among the control methods. They rely on the use of chemical insecticides and are usually done via larviciding, thermal fogging and misting methods.

Biological control is another environmentally friendly approach to control mosquito populations. It involves the use of biological agents such as bacteria to control the mosquito population. Another innovation is the Project Wolbachia which reduces the population of Aedes mosquitoes through the release of sterile male Aedes mosquitoes.

Tips to Reduce Mosquito Bites

1. Use insect repellents
2. Wear protective clothing
3. Avoid peak mosquito hours
4. Keep air circulating
5. Sleep under a mosquito net
6. Get rid of stagnant water
7. Keep your gardens and home clean

Controlling and preventing mosquitoes in Singapore is a real challenge. As mentioned, the climate offers an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. However, public awareness, preventive methods, and collective efforts are crucial in the battle against Dengue in Singapore

THEO10 Mosquito repellent

Intro video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3flmaxd0n10&feature=emb_logo

Featured on CNN, BBC, Straits Times and various media platforms during the ZIKA Epidemic, Theo10® REPELS is a revolutionary ‘wind-proof’ insect repellent that is extremely effective against mosquito and ants which is created using only all-natural organic ingredients for outdoor use. It coats your skin with a very fine layer of essential oils that effectively protects your skin against mosquitoes and ants for up to 4 hours. 

While most other repellents use smell to repel mosquitoes, natural elements outdoors such as wind dissipates smell and drastically reduces the efficacy.

Thus we have formulated a ‘wind-proof’ repellent to ensure its efficacy maintains for at least 4 hours

Ingredients include:

1. Organic cold pressed Neem seed oil

2. Organic American Peppermint Essential Oil

3. Litsea Cubeba distilled essential oil

4. Purified water

5. Organic cold pressed Valencia Orange

6. Cedarwood essential oil

7. Carrotseed essential oil

Suitable for:

• 6 Months Old and Above
• Repelling Mosquito and ants
• Up to 4 hours
• Not sticky nor oily
• Sensitive skin

Method of Application: Just 3 simple steps – 3S (Shake, Spray, Spread)

Step 1: Shake the bottle

Step 2: Spray on skin

Step 3: Spread out the oil

*Repeat the steps on all exposed skin*

To maximize its effectiveness, spray (15cm away) on all exposed skin and spread gently across the skin. While spraying on the face, use fingers to cover the closed eyes and rub the face gently before opening eyes. Apply every 3 to 4 hours for continued protection. For 6 month old babies, spray from a further distance (20cm away) to prevent over concentration on an area.

Purchase at: https://theo10.com/product/theo10-repels-130ml/

Adapted from: https://killem.com.sg/blog/category/mosquitoes/