Dengue cases saw another hiked this week to 108 cases after six consecutive weeks of decline.
This weekly figure is 14 cases more than last week. As of 3 pm on 24 October, it said that another 9 cases were reported.
The total people infected with dengue have reached 12,366 cases. This has exceeded the total cases reported on the whole 2015 with 11,286 cases.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) warned that the number of cases this year might reach more than 30,000 cases, almost double the number of 11,286 cases reported in 2015. This means that this year will be marked as the highest cases report in history, exceeding 22,170 cases reported in 2013, based on the speed of infections in the start of the year.
Currently, there are 20 active dengue clusters across the island, with two areas classified as high risk. A cluster in Yishun Avenue 4 and Yishun Street 61 has the highest risk with 77 cases reported, five of which were diagnosed in the past fortnight.
On 30 August, an 11-year-old boy who lived in Woodleigh Close passed away due to dengue infection at the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). This has brought the total victims who succumb to dengue fever this year to 8, twice the number recorded in 2015.
The same mosquito vector which transmits dengue also transmits Zika, yellow fever, and Chikungunya. The vector control implemented will also help to prevent Zika and other vector borne diseases from taking roots in the country.
On 4 October, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) had approved the use of dengue vaccines.
According to HSA, two groups of experts from HSA’s Medicines Advisory Committee and Dengue Expert Panel, comprising medical doctors and infectious diseases specialists, were consulted during the review to ensure that the vaccine is relevant and the benefits outweigh the risks for the Singapore population.
Last week, NEA released male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, as part of a small-scale trial to control the spread of dengue, which carry the Wolbachia bacteria at Braddell Heights Housing Estate. Within the next month, the trial will be extended to two other estates in Nee Soon East and Tampines West.
Members of the public are encouraged to do the 5-step Mozzie workout.
