magyoungparents@sph.com.sg
With dengue cases rising this year, should your children avoid parks and green spaces?
There is a smaller risk of contracting dengue in the green spaces here, compared with urban spaces. But low risk does not mean no risk.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) says 140 species of mosquitoes have been found in Singapore. But only two of them – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – can transmit dengue here.
Of the two, Aedes albopictus is commonly found in forests, parks and areas with much greenery, but it is not as efficient at transmitting dengue as Aedes aegypti, which thrives in urban areas. Still, the NEA cautioned that Aedes albopictus has been responsible for outbreaks overseas when present in large numbers in densely populated areas.
Related: More dengue…
