Singapore: Dengue cases surge in first quarter of 2019 /update 2

Event

Singaporean health officials reported more than 2000 cases of dengue fever, as well as three deaths, in the first three months of 2019 - an increase from approximately 600 recorded over the same period in 2018. The National Environment Agency expects the number of reported cases to increase in the coming months. Health officials also launched a dengue prevention campaign, involving placing mosquito traps, eradicating mosquito breeding grounds, and beginning a mosquito sterilization campaign. There are 26 active dengue clusters, with the largest clusters located at Woodlands Circle, Teck Whye Lane, and Golden Walk.

Context

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small number of cases, the potentially deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) may develop, resulting in internal bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and high fever.

Advice

Individuals present in Singapore are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).