According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), dengue cases have been increasing in Singapore. Well over 200 cases were reported weekly in the past five weeks.
266 cases were reported between 17 and 23 July this year, 43 more cases than those on 10 to 16 July. While 214 cases were reported between 19 and 25 June, 234 cases between June 26 and July 2, and 246 cases between 3 and 9 July. Another 33 cases were reported on from July 24 until July 25 at 3 pm. The total reports of the cases have reached 9,879 cases this year.
There were 6 cases of fatalities due to the symptoms this year, 2 more than a total of 4 fatalities in the year of 2015. The latest fatalities was that of a 72-year-old woman in Simei.
On Monday (July 25), the NEA announced 43 active dengue cluster this week, with 9 areas classified as high-risk. While last week, 44 active dengue cluster were reported. (view cluster areas here)
Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. Therefore, this virus can not be spread from one person to another.
There are several symptoms for dengue virus which usually begins 4 to 6 days after the infection and ended in about 10 days :
- Sudden, high fever
- Severe headaches
- Pain behind the eyes
- Severe joint and muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever
- Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising
There are times, symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection. Younger children and people who have never had the infection before tend to have milder cases than older children and adults.
However, serious problems can develop which is called Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). These include dengue hemorrhagic fever, a rare complication characterized by high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock, and death.
There are some preventive action launched by the government according to the classified areas, which are
