Dengue situation in Upper Paya Lebar, Singapore worsens

Channel NewsAsia 5 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: The dengue situation at the Upper Paya Lebar Road foreign workers' dormitories has worsened, with 21 cases reported so far.

Despite increased efforts to wipe out the Aedes mosquito breeding sites, workers are still falling ill.

A total of 13 workers came down with dengue in the last ten days.

To flush out the mosquitoes, they even sealed off rooms and burnt mosquito coils in their sleeping quarters.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has advised the workers to look out for trouble spots like pails, plastic containers and canvases which can accumulate stagnant water.

Monitoring the situation closely, NEA has issued 11 summonses to residents, shophouse owners and factory operators found to have neglected areas in their premises, leading to the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.

The Health Ministry said no dengue deaths have been reported in the first three months of this year, but Singaporeans are urged to stay vigilant by frequently checking and removing stagnant water in their homes.- CNA/so