ONE BITE, ONE LIFE – STOP DENGUE AT HOME

Dengue is a viral infectious disease transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. There are four main serotypes of the dengue virus (DEN-1 to DEN-4), and a person can be infected more than once in their lifetime—each time with the risk of more severe complications. Common symptoms include high fever, intense headaches, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes. In severe cases, dengue can lead to internal bleeding, shock, organ failure, and even death.

To avoid becoming the next victim, preventive measures must be taken consistently. Key steps include emptying and cleaning all water containers—such as flowerpots, used tires, buckets, clogged drains, and pet water dishes—at least once a week. Additionally, using mosquito repellent, wearing protective clothing during peak mosquito hours (6:00–8:00 AM and 6:00–8:00 PM), and growing mosquito-repelling plants like Cymbopogan nardus (Serai wangi), Lantana camara (Bunga tahi ayam), Ocimum basilicum (Bunga selasih), Vetiveria zizanioides (Akar wangi), Aloe barbadensis miller (Lidah buaya), Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat ali), Azadirachta indica (Mambu) and Pelargonium citrosum (Jeremin) can serve as helpful alternatives.

As a united regional effort, ASEAN Dengue Day is observed annually on June 15 to raise awareness and promote collaborative action against the threat of dengue fever. The 2025 theme, “Towards Zero Dengue Deaths: Science, Strategy, and Solidarity”, underscores the importance of community involvement in eradicating dengue.

The COMBI approach (Communication for Behavioural Impact) is a community-based initiative that emphasizes active participation from all levels of society. One of the key actions the community can take is to monitor dengue hotspots through official platforms through the iDengue portal. This platform allows residents to check active outbreak locations and report potential breeding sites to authorities. Community clean-up events, mosquito breeding site inspections, and accurate information sharing can help speed up control measures and reduce infection risk.

As of June 12, 2025, Malaysia has recorded 27,989 dengue cases, with 16 reported deaths. Selangor reported the highest number of cases (12,095), followed by the Wilayah Persekutuan (3,706) and Johor (3,050). On that day alone, 221 new cases were reported nationwide. These numbers highlight the urgent need for immediate action.

Therefore, public awareness and active community engagement are key to successful, comprehensive dengue prevention. Let’s build a future free from dengue- related deaths—together, starting from our own homes.

Dr. Nina Fatma Ali

Senior Lecturer

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date of Input: 14/06/2025 | Updated: 14/06/2025 | nadia_rahman