Health Alert - U.S. Embassy Singapore
Location: Singapore
Event: Dengue cases are on the rise in Singapore. Already in 2020 there have been more than 10,000 reported cases as of 11 June 2020. This is the largest outbreak recorded in Singapore’s recent history.
Symptoms of Dengue:
- Sudden onset of fever for 2-7 days
- Severe headache with pain behind the eyes
- Joint and muscle pain
- Skin rashes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mild bleeding (e.g. nose or gum bleed, or easy bruising of the Symptoms usually appear 4-7 days after being bitten (ranges from 3-14 days).
If you are concerned that you may have Dengue it would be wise to be seen by a medical provider. Although 75 percent of those infected with Dengue are without symptoms, one in five people will end up in the hospital. For some people, Dengue fever can develop into Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, or “Severe Dengue”. The most severe symptoms may begin as the fever subsides. For these cases proper treatment can save lives; thus reducing the mortality rate from more than 20 percent to less than 1 percent.
How do you prevent Dengue?
You can prevent mosquito bites by applying insect repellent, wearing long, covered clothing and keeping windows and doors closed to inhibit mosquitos from entering your apartment. Preventing the spread of Dengue is also about maintaining vigilance in your environment. The Aedes mosquito has a distinctive black and white striped body, and prefers to breed in clean, stagnant water. By frequently checking and removing stagnant water from your home, you can help to prevent the spread of Dengue fever.
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