Number of new dengue cases falls for 4th week

There were 374 new cases in the week of Mar 13 to Mar 19, 23 fewer than the previous week, according to the latest data from NEA.
Channel NewsAsia 22 Mar 16;

SINGAPORE: The number of new cases of dengue reported is continuing on its downward trajectory for the 4th week in a row, with 374 cases reported from Mar 13 to Mar 19, according to the National Environment Agency's latest data.

This was 23 cases fewer than the 397 cases reported in the previous week. There were 412 cases reported from Feb 28 to Mar 5, 512 cases reported from Feb 21 to Feb 27, and 590 cases from Feb 14 to Feb 20.

Another 58 cases were reported from Mar 20 to 3.30pm on Mar 21, according to NEA's website.

A total of 5,657 dengue cases have been reported in Singapore since the start of the year. Three people - a 47-year-old man who lived in Marsiling Rise, a 67-year-old man who lived in Toa Payoh and a 63-year-old woman who lived in Bedok - have died of the disease so far.

The Ministry of Health and NEA have warned that the number of dengue cases in Singapore may exceed 30,000 this year, higher than the record of 22,170 reported in 2013.

This is due to factors such as warmer conditions brought about by the El Nino weather phenomenon, faster breeding and maturation cycles of the Aedes mosquito population and a change in the main circulating dengue virus, said both agencies at a joint media briefing.

- CNA/mz