Number of dengue cases expected to be higher this year

Channel NewsAsia 4 May 08;

SINGAPORE: The number of dengue cases is expected to be higher this year.

South West CDC Mayor Amy Khor on Sunday said, in the first four months of the year, there is already a 35 per cent increase in the number of dengue cases compared to the same period last year.

Dr Khor added that the number of breeding sites has also increased, 40 per cent higher than last year.

As of 19 April, there were 3212 breeding sites, and about 55 per cent of them were outdoor - mainly discarded receptacles such as plastic pails.

It is, therefore, important to engage every individual to help fight dengue.

In the latest effort, some 200 foreign students and 500 residents were roped in to spread the importance of good public health habits.

The "My Hostel Shines @ South West" programme will see three key measures implemented - a pilot dengue prevention ambassador training for 20 foreign students; block washing by 100 foreign students and 20 residents; and a joint community vigilance programme where foreign students join grassroots leaders in house visits to comb potential mosquito breeding sites.

"There is no shortcut to preventing dengue and minimising the number of cases. The most effective and best way is still source reduction, which is to eradicate any potential dengue breeding sites," said Dr Khor.

"There continue to be a segment of the population who are not vigilant, who are not diligent enough, who continue to litter. In fact, discarded receptacle is one of the top most dengue breeding sites... Therefore we need to continue with our public education and awareness campaign," she added. - CNA/ac

Efforts intensify as dengue spikes
Number of cases up 35%, breeding sites up 42%
Loh Chee Kong, Today Online 5 May 08;

THE quantum of the fine has been doubled, public education campaigns redesigned and door-to-door community efforts intensified.

But the dengue situation continues to get worse. In the first four months of the year, the number of dengue cases went up 35 per cent, compared to the same period last year, to 1,616. Correspondingly, the number of mosquito breeding sites detected has gone up by 42.4 per cent.

As of April 19, there were 3,213 breeding sites; about 55 per cent were outdoors, mainly discarded receptacles such as plastic pails.

While this spike could be partly due to the National Environment Agency starting its "intensive source reduction exercise" a month earlier than last year, "the worrying thing is the breeding sites continue to be the same kind of habitats", said Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment and Water Resources) Amy Khor. That indicates some people were not heeding public education efforts, she added.

She was speaking yesterday at the South West Community Development Council's latest anti-dengue programme, which ropes in 1,099 foreign students living in a Jurong West hostel to comb for potential breeding sites with grassroots leaders.

Dr Khor said reminders were needed even for those who have "internalised" anti-breeding habits. "If you look at the publicity through advertisements, we've been changing the messages, too, just in case people get lulled into complacency or become quite oblivious." For instance, the campaign now provides advice for people living in an identified dengue cluster and is "not just about mozzie wipe out".

Since last month, the Government has raised the fine to $200 for homeowners caught for the first time with breeding grounds in their residential premises. The authorities will monitor the situation, which "should improve", before deciding on any further changes, said Dr Khor.

Meanwhile, the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC has relaunched its SMS alert system, which was first rolled out last year, for residents to inform the Town Council of potential breeding sites. At the peak of the outbreak last year, the GRC experienced 80 dengue cases in three clusters, said MP Ahmad Magad.

Describing the spike in dengue cases as a "mystery", Dr Ahmad felt it was largely due to the mutation of the dengue viral strains.

He said: "We're taking no chances this year ... to make sure we get as much involvement from the community as possible to prevent further outbreaks."