Launch of NEA's National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2026 - Dr Janil Puthucheary

Good morning, grassroot leaders, volunteers, and residents. It is a pleasure to join you today for the launch of the 2026 National Dengue Prevention Campaign.

Firstly, I would like to thank the National Library Board for hosting today’s event at the Tampines Library, and for their partnership with the National Environment Agency in supporting this campaign. I would also like to thank Mr Delton Teo, Chairman for Tampines Central Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E) for his support. I also extend my appreciation to our community leaders and volunteers from Tampines GRC, NEA volunteers, partners, and ground-up champions who have been actively reaching out to residents, especially in dengue cluster areas. Your commitment plays a vital role in safeguarding our communities and protecting lives. 

This year’s campaign carries the message: “This is no small matter.” The Aedes mosquito is tiny — easy to overlook, easy to dismiss. Yet, the consequences of dengue are anything but small. The World Health Organization recorded 14 million dengue cases globally in 2024, more than double the previous record of 6.5 million set just the year before when over 11,000 lives were lost. Closer to home, Singapore saw over 32,000 cases in 2022, one of our worst outbreaks on record. These statistics are a sobering reminder of what is at stake.

Qiqi, a dengue survivor who is here in the audience today, knows this firsthand. When she contracted dengue, her liver was affected and doctors monitored her for potential cardiac complications. She was on bedrest for nearly a month. Even after she left the hospital, the effects continued to affect her daily life in ways she never anticipated. I encourage all of you to watch the video featuring her story at the Level 6 Programme Zone later. It is a powerful reminder of why dengue prevention is something none of us can afford to take lightly.  

The current dengue situation is relatively stable, but we cannot afford to be complacent. As we enter the traditional peak dengue season from May to October, warmer temperatures speed up mosquito breeding cycles and allow the dengue virus to replicate more rapidly. This means outbreaks can escalate faster than before. We must act early, rather than react only when case numbers rise. We continue to invest in both technology and community action to stay ahead of the virus and protect our communities. 

For example, in March, we announced that Project Wolbachia will be expanded to cover more than 50% of Singapore households by end-2026, with encouraging results in deployment areas. However, this technology is designed to complement — not replace — proven efforts to target dengue at its source. Removing stagnant water remains the most direct and effective way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. 

Prevention begins with what we do at home and in our community. We encourage everyone to continue practising the B-L-O-C-K steps regularly to keep our surroundings free of potential breeding spots:

• B – Break up hardened soil

• L – Lift and empty flowerpot plates

• O – Overturn pails and wipe their rims

• C – Change water in vases

• K – Keep roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide 

These simple actions take just a few minutes, but when done consistently, they can make a difference in preventing an outbreak in your block and your neighbourhood. 

It is timely that 2026 has been designated as the Year of Climate Adaptation because climate change is very much here and now. It is not something in the future, not potential, not speculation. Temperatures are rising, rainfall is more unpredictable, and these shifts are already changing how diseases like dengue take hold and spread. As dengue risk grows with our changing climate, community action remains our strongest and most reliable defence. When each of us plays our part, we protect not just ourselves, but our families, neighbours, and the wider community. 

The National Dengue Prevention Campaign is more than a public health campaign. It is a commitment, to one another and to future generations, that we will not wait for the problem to worsen before we act. I hope today’s launch serves as a timely reminder, not just for those here, but for every household in Singapore, that dengue prevention is a shared responsibility, and one that we must keep up all year round. Let us stay vigilant and make dengue prevention part of our daily habits.

Together, we can stay ahead of dengue. As this year’s campaign reminds us, this is no small matter. Thank you.