Bracing for worst dengue surge

The nation is on track to record its worst dengue outbreak in its history this year, with cases expected to surpass the high of 22,170 reported in 2013. More than 14,000 cases have been reported since Jan 1 this year.

SINGAPORE is on track to record its worst dengue outbreak in its history this year.

More than 14,000 cases have been reported since Jan 1, with the total number expected to surpass the high of 22,170 reported in 2013, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday.

Eight people died of dengue fever in 2013, while there have been 16 deaths so far this year.

Experts have noted that case numbers are expected to rise further as Singapore is in the centre of the traditional peak dengue season between May and September.

The NEA said there were 334 active dengue clusters islandwide as at Wednesday, well up on the 205 clusters three weeks ago.

It noted that “intensive” vector control operations are taking place at large clusters in Woodleigh Close, Aljunied and Geylang Roads, Bukit Panjang Ring Road, Leicester Road/ Potong Pasir Avenue 1 and Bournemouth Road.

There has been a higher rate of transmission within some clusters, including Aljunied Road with 191 cases, the Bukit Panjang Ring Road cluster with 185 and Bournemouth Road with 175 infections.

Other clusters with a quick rate of dengue spread include those in Geylang Road, Geylang East Avenue 1, Brighton Crescent and Arnasalam Chetty Road or Kim Yam Road.

These clusters have recorded an average of about two to five new cases a day over the past two weeks.

Most of the mosquito breeding grounds detected during NEA inspections are still found inside homes and premises, as well as in common areas within residential estates, said the agency.

It noted that while 75% of the 1,328 clusters notified since the start of this year have been closed, “egregious mosquito breeding” continues to be detected. One was a construction site within a dengue cluster in Potong Pasir Avenue 1.

A stop-work order was issued to the site on June 24 after it was found guilty of mosquito breeding on multiple occasions. The order will be lifted when preventive measures have been correctly carried out, said the NEA.

Other premises found with mosquito breeding habitats include residential homes within dengue clusters and common areas of Housing Board estates managed by town councils or residents’ committees.

The NEA said: “(This shows) that some owners of premises and occupiers are still not carrying out the necessary basic vector control checks despite extensive outreach on prevention over the past months and the current serious situation.”

There will be heavier penalties for households committing mosquito breeding offences from July 15.

Households that have mosquitoes breeding in more than one place, or where breeding is detected even after they have been served legal notice that they are in a dengue cluster, will be fined US$300 (RM921). Repeat offenders will be given heftier penalties or charged.

The NEA said 6,900 premises islandwide have undergone inspection and vector control over the past three weekends.

It urged occupants to remove any stagnant water in their immediate surroundings to help prevent mosquito breeding and curb the transmission. —