Be Alert: Combat Dengue with These Steps — Updated with Current Evidence

How dengue spreads & when bites happen

• Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue live near people and bite day and night, with peaks after sunrise and before sunset. (CDC, Hawaii Department of Health)

Who is at higher risk of severe illness

• Older adults show markedly higher mortality once infected; children also need close monitoring. (PMC, ScienceDirect)

Proven personal protection

• Use EPA/WHO-recommended repellents on exposed skin: DEET, picaridin (icaridin), IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD, or 2-undecanone. Reapply as directed. (CDC, LACounty Public Health)
• Wear long sleeves/pants, use screens/bed nets, and eliminate standing water in/around your home (buckets, plant trays, coolers, tires). (CDC)

About plant oils & incense

• Citronella/lemongrass can repel mosquitoes but typically protect for ~15–120 minutes unless in enhanced formulations—so reapply often and don’t rely on aroma alone. Evidence for neem incense/agarbatti is limited; smoke exposure isn’t recommended indoors for health. Prefer skin-applied or device-based repellents with proven actives. (Nature, PMC)

Myth-busting

• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) does not repel mosquitoes in controlled studie, but less prone to Dengue – do not use it for prevention. (PubMed, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Entomology Today)
• Blood group “O” may attract Aedes slightly in some studies, but findings are inconsistent; everyone should follow full precautions. (Pfizer, PMC)

Community-level breakthroughs

• Cities using Wolbachia-infected Aedes have seen ~77% fewer dengue cases and ~86% fewer hospitalizations—advocate for local deployments where available. (World Mosquito Program)

Bottom line for families

• Cover up, use proven repellents, and remove breeding sites weekly. Keep elders and children especially protected.

— Dr Karthik Gupta, Consciousness Research Scholar cum Family Bliss Guide