As parents, we do everything we can to keep our children safe, from supervising screen time to ensuring they eat their veggies. But there’s one silent threat that can disrupt it all in a matter of days: dengue.
Often perceived as just a high fever or a few days off from school, dengue’s impact goes far beyond discomfort. It can overwhelm families emotionally, financially, and mentally. And as The Woke Salaryman comic reminds us, our increasingly individualistic lifestyles may be making it harder to solve problems that require collective effort—like dengue prevention.
Dengue: A Growing Concern in Singapore
Dengue has become one of the most serious health threats of our time. It’s now recognised as one of the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s top 10 global health threats and is the most widespread vector-borne disease worldwide. Climate change and urbanisation are fuelling the spread of dengue globally, and in Asia, 1.3 billion people are at risk.
In Singapore, the situation is alarming. In 2024, there were more than 13,600 local dengue cases and 15 deaths, marking an alarming increase from the previous year. Factors such as climate change, urbanisation, and high population densities contribute to this surge.
The Broader Impact of Dengue on Families
Beyond physical symptoms, dengue creates a ripple effect:
- Parents miss work, sometimes without pay
- Children miss school, often during key academic periods
- Families face medical expenses, even with health insurance
- Healthcare systems become overloaded during outbreaks
According to an analysis of Singapore’s economic burden of dengue, the estimated total cost of dengue between 2010 and 2020 reached SGD 148 million, a significant increase compared to SGD 58–110 million in the previous decade.
Notably, indirect costs—like lost productivity due to illness or caregiving—comprised 21–63% of the total. This includes:
- Lost wages due to sick leave
- Reduced job performance
- Time off to care for sick children or elderly relatives
- Long-term health recovery
The real financial sting of dengue is often invisible but devastating.
United Against Dengue: Supporting WHO’s Integrated Approach to Dengue Control
To combat the growing global threat of dengue, the World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for a comprehensive approach focused on reducing transmission, hospitalizations, and deaths. Key strategies include eliminating mosquito breeding sites, early detection and treatment, public education, community involvement, and targeted vaccination in high-risk areas. Central to this effort is WHO’s goal of achieving zero dengue deaths by 2030.
In support of this vision, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) APAC and Takeda have launched the United Against Dengue (UAD) collaboration. Aligned with WHO’s integrated efforts, the collaboration focuses on three strategic pillars:
- Educate: Build community resilience and readiness through impactful disease education and early preparedness. Efforts include community awareness campaigns, volunteer training using the Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV) toolkit, and hygiene promotion through community engagement. Enhanced surveillance systems and early action protocols will also be introduced to guide community responses and improve outcomes.
- Advocate: Ensure the sustainability of preventative measures through policy work and stakeholder engagement. This includes working closely with policymakers, medical societies, and community organizations to support the integration of dengue prevention, management and control into national strategies. Regional and national alignment across public health stakeholders is also prioritized to drive unified action and strengthen health system resilience for long-term impact.
- Support: Provide care and assistance to communities and individuals affected by dengue.
These efforts represent the initial focus of the initiative and are not exhaustive. Additional efforts will be introduced as UAD continues to respond to evolving community needs and opportunities for greater impact.
What We’ve Lost in Modern Living
With education being one of the key pillars of United Against Dengue, a relatable, visually engaging comic developed in collaboration with The Woke Salaryman reflects on a key insight: modern life has made us more isolated and less cooperative.
In the past, kampung (village) life depended on mutual support. If a neighbour’s roof leaked or a tree posed a danger, the community worked together to solve the issue.
Today, many of us don’t even know the names of the people living next door. This social disconnect affects how we deal with shared challenges—like dengue. As the comic puts it:
“Modern city life only provides the illusion of self-sufficiency. The reality is that we’re more interconnected than ever.”
In cities facing a rise in mosquito-borne diseases, preventing outbreaks is a collective responsibility. When someone litters, clutters corridors, or leaves a pail of water uncovered, they might see it as “their own space”—but the ripple effect could lead to a dengue outbreak in the entire building.
Innovative Education: The Power of Storytelling
Leveraging the unique power of storytelling, the comic simplifies the science and social responsibility of dengue into bite-sized, actionable ideas.
It highlights:
- The emotional and physical toll of dengue
- The importance of small, consistent actions (like checking for stagnant water)
- How modern living has eroded neighbourly care—and how we can restore it
The comic will be made available in multiple languages and shared across the region, with the potential to be adopted in schools to encourage dengue prevention from a young age.
How Families Can Act Now
You already teach your kids to say “please” and “thank you,” to cross the road safely, and to eat their greens. Let’s add dengue prevention to that list.
Here’s what you can do—today:
- Clear stagnant water regularly (yes, even that tiny saucer under the potted plant, as mosquitoes can breed on as little as one teaspoon of water)
- Check NEA cluster alerts to know if your area is high-risk
- Use mosquito repellents and screens, especially during early morning and evening
- Read and share the United Against Dengue comic with your kids and neighbours
- Join community clean-up days or talk to your MP about local dengue prevention measures
Because when it comes to dengue, no one is safe unless everyone participates.
United Against Dengue is a collaboration between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Takeda. Learn more via https://www.ifrc.org/article/ifrc-and-takeda-initiate-united-against-dengue-alliance-combat-escalating-threat-mosquito.
