Dengue in India: 6 preventive tips to protect your family from mosquito bites

Dengue is rising in India, but simple steps like using mosquito repellents and keeping your surroundings clean can help keep your family safe from bites. (Image: Pexels)

Dengue is known as the  “break-bone fever” for a reason. A disease that includes symptoms like piercing headaches, fever and joint pain, is now threatening nearly half the world’s population. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a dramatic rise in cases, fuelled by climate change, rapid urbanisation and poor waste management. Nevertheless, prevention lies in your hands, often in the smallest of habits.

Between January and July 2025 alone, the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded over four million cases and more than 3,000 deaths from 97 countries. The scale is sobering, especially considering that most infections remain unreported. Places with monsoon puddles and patchy urban drainage, are particularly at risk. Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which thrives in still water and bites mostly during the day. Unlike other illnesses, there is no specific treatment available, making early detection, supportive care and everyday prevention our strongest line of defence.

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The mosquito’s spread has widened beyond tropical zones, reaching places earlier untouched. Scientists point to warmer climates, unpredictable rains and overburdened health systems as reasons behind this surge. For many families, what begins as a mild fever can escalate into severe illness within days. The burden is not only medical but also economic, with working adults confined to beds and hospitals, and children missing school. Which is why experts insist that community awareness, neighbourhood clean-ups and personal precautions must work together if the tide against dengue is to be turned.

Here are some easy  prevention tips recommended by the WHO: 

Wear full sleeves and light colours

Mosquitoes are drawn to darker shades. Loose, light clothing that covers arms and legs gives fewer chances for bites.

Use repellents during the day

Apply mosquito repellent creams or sprays containing DEET or picaridin, especially on exposed skin, since dengue mosquitoes bite most often in daylight.

Protect the water containers

Keep the containers clean and covered. Change water in buckets, coolers, and storage tanks every week. Aedes mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water inside homes as much as outside.

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Install beta and screens

Fix mesh on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes at bay. Also, sleep under a mosquito net to cut down bites.

Keep the surroundings clean

Prevent puddles and waste accumulation around homes. Old tyres, bottles, pots, and clogged drains are breeding grounds. A weekly clean up of the surroundings helps in the long run.

Do not ignore the warning signs

Watch out for fever, along with severe abdominal pain, vomiting or bleeding. Seek immediate medical care, as early detection makes a lot of difference.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for a specific health diagnosis.