SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency has observed an increase in the number
of dengue cases last week.
There were a total of 208 dengue cases, which
is unusual for January, a month that does not fall under the typical April to
October peak transmission period. This is an increase from the 135 and 112
cases reported in the preceding two weeks.
NEA reminds the community to take preventive
steps to remove stagnant water in their homes, such as doing the
"10-minute 5-step Mozzie Wipe-out".
The total number of cases notified in 2013
(till Jan 12) is 342 - approximately a 2-and-a-half-fold increase over the same
period in 2012.
This could be associated with a possible
increase in the less common Dengue Type 1 (DEN-1) virus, which the community
has lower immunity against.
DEN-2 is the predominant dengue serotype
circulating in Singapore, showing up in 75 per cent of dengue cases sampled in
the past five years, and DEN-1 serotype shows up in less than 25 per cent of
sampled cases in average.
In recent months the proportion of DEN-1
cases has been increasing, with most recent results showing 30 per cent of
dengue samples containing the DEN-1 serotype.
Stepping
up vigilance
NEA will be stepping up its dengue prevention
efforts and the public is urged to be more vigilant in keeping homes and their
immediate surroundings mosquito-free.
It will deploy more manpower resources to
target areas where DEN-1 has been circulating, install Gravitraps to monitor
and trap the adult mosquito population, and work with grassroots to step up
community outreach.
NEA has also alerted members of the
Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force including LTA, HDB, PUB, NParks and Town
Councils to step up their inspections of outdoor breeding habitats in the
properties, buildings and development sites that they manage.
NEA will also roll out a publicity campaign
to spread the vigilance message among the community.
NEA officers will also conduct house visits
and distribute public educational materials such as brochures to members of the
public.
In addition, residents can also participate
in their grassroots' dengue prevention activities to help fight against dengue.
Urging the public to also do their part, Mr
Tai Ji Choong, Director of NEA's Environment Health Department said, "Our
stepped up efforts will be for naught unless the public joins in our fight
against dengue. We look forward to the public's support in our efforts, so that
our community can worry less about the threat of dengue".
Prevention
tips to take
NEA advises all residents living in areas
where dengue is transmitting to ensure their homes are free of stagnant water,
apply repellent daily during daytime, and to aerosol dark corners such as
underneath the bed, sofa, behind curtains in their homes every day.
Those diagnosed with dengue are encouraged to
sleep in air-conditioned rooms or apply insect repellent to break the dengue
transmission chain.
All other members of public should practise
the "10-minute 5-step Mozzie Wipe-out" to remove mosquito breeding
habitats:
1. Change water in vases/bowls on alternate
days
2. Turn over all water storage containers
3. Cover bamboo pole holders when not in use
4. Clear blockages and put BTI insecticide in
roof gutters monthly
5. Remove water from flower pot plates on
alternate days
For the latest updates on dengue case numbers
and affected areas, please visit dengue.gov.sg, or check the myENV app, or sign
up for X-Dengue SMS alerts at http://www.x-dengue.com.
Members of the public who encounter mosquito
breeding habitats should contact NEA's 24-hr hotline, 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255
632), for investigation or contact their managing agents or Town Councils to
have them removed.
AsiaOne
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