Four more down with chikungunya in Singapore

Sujin Thomas, Straits Times 20 Aug 08;

A 62-YEAR-OLD housewife from Choa Chu Kang is among four new people confirmed to have caught chikungunya, officials said yesterday.

The new cases stretched from Kranji to Pasir Panjang, bringing the total number reported this year to 128, according to the Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency (NEA).

The most recent cases were in three areas - Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, Kranji Way and Sungei Kadut - that have been battling outbreaks of the dengue-like disease in recent weeks.

The woman in the latest case developed symptoms last Saturday and was hospitalised the same day. She tested positive on Monday for the virus, which causes fever, nausea and muscle aches. In rare cases it can be fatal.

This comes about a week after her 32-year-old daughter and 61-year-old husband also tested positive for the virus.

Her daughter, who developed symptoms on Aug 8, has since recovered. Her husband remains in hospital.

The three had not travelled overseas recently and had stuck around their home and their workplace, the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre.

Officers from the NEA have fanned out across the Pasir Panjang fruit and vegetable distribution centre and the surrounding area. So far, they have found and destroyed five mosquito-breeding sites.

In the Kranji Way cluster, a 34-year-old Indian national who works and lives at Kranji Crescent tested positive for the disease.

Up to 70 NEA officers have been deployed in the area around Kranji Way, covering Kranji Loop, Kranji Road, Kranji Link and Sungei Kadut.

In the Sungei Kadut cluster, a 36-year-old Chinese national who works and lives at Sungei Kadut Street 1 and a 48-year-old Singaporean who works at Sungei Kadut Street 6 tested positive.

Four new chikungunya cases have surfaced
Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia 19 Aug 08;

SINGAPORE: Four new cases of chikungunya fever have surfaced. According to the Health Ministry, one of the victims is a 62-year-old woman who works at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre.

Her 61-year-old husband and 32-year-old daughter were infected earlier. The older woman developed symptoms last Saturday, August 16, and was hospitalised. She was tested positive two days later.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) had found five mosquito-breeding sites at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre.

Another new case of chikungunya infection linked to the Kranji Way cluster has also been reported. The victim, a 34-year-old Indian national, works and stays at Kranji Crescent. This brings the total number of cases linked to the Kranji Way cluster to 33.

Two more cases involving people working in Sungei Kadut have emerged as well, bringing the total number of cases linked to that cluster to five.

The first case involves a 36-year-old Chinese national who works and stays at Sungei Kadut Street 1. The second case is a 48-year-old local who works at Sungei Kadut Street 6.

In all, 128 chikungunya infection cases have been reported so far this year.