Channel NewsAsia 2 Aug 08;
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) said there are new three cases of chikungunya fever involving two foreign workers and a local delivery driver.
MOH said its preliminary investigations revealed that the three cases are probably local cases with the likely source of infection being in Kranji Way as they have not travelled out of Singapore recently.
The two foreign workers are working and residing at a site in Kranji Way while the local delivery driver had delivered goods to the same site in Kranji Way.
The two foreign workers are currently in hospital for isolation and treatment while the Singaporean driver is currently well and has returned to work.
The Health Ministry is currently carrying out active case detection at and around the site in Kranji Way and blood samples are being sent to the Environmental Health Institute for testing.
The ministry advises those who have travelled to Kranji Way recently and who have developed fever and joint pains to consult their doctors.
The National Environment Agency officers are also conducting intensive mosquito control operations within the vicinity.
Mosquito breedings were found in 10 factory premises in the neighbourhood including the workplace and quarters of the patients.
All mosquito breedings were destroyed and insecticide fogging is being carried out. - CNA/vm
Three more down with chikungunya
Kranji Way likely to be source of spread; two victims still in hospital
Gracia Chiang, Straits Times 3 Aug 08
Three more people have fallen victim to chikungunya fever, bringing the total to 51 cases this year.
The trio comprise two foreigners - a 37-year-old Bangladeshi and a 41-year-old Indian working and living in Kranji Way - and a Singaporean.
The 39-year-old Singaporean, a delivery driver, had sent goods to the same location.
The two foreigners are still in hospital while the Singaporean has recovered and returned to work. All three cases happened last week.
Last Friday, it was reported that a 60-year-old woman who lived off Holland Road was also diagnosed with chikungunya, after she fell ill on July 24.
Preliminary investigations showed that in the latest cases, the virus was likely to have been transmitted locally. This means the cases were not 'imported' - the victims were not bitten by an infected mosquito while overseas. In fact, none of the four travelled out of the country recently.
Chikungunya, like dengue, is a mosquito-borne disease. The Ministry of Health (MOH) advises those who have visited Kranji Way recently and those who develop fever and joint pains to consult their doctors.
Of the 51 cases this year, 31 have been confirmed to be imported. The first local outbreak surfaced in January, when 13 people in Little India were infected. In June, there were three more local cases.
If the latest cases are confirmed as local ones, that would mean 20 people contracted the disease in Singapore this year.
Meanwhile, National Environment Agency officers went into action last week, conducting checks in the Kranji Way area.
They found mosquitoes breeding in 10 factory premises, including the workplace and living quarters of the two foreigners.
All breeding sources were destroyed and insecticide fogging is being carried out.
The MOH has been testing the blood samples of people in the vicinity.
It said that while the number of local cases has risen, most are still imported.
The virus is mainly carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, similar to the way dengue is transmitted.
The number of dengue cases up to July 26 has dropped by almost a third, compared with the same period last year.
The MOH urges people going overseas to take precautions, especially in countries like India, Indonesia and Malaysia, which have had outbreaks.
MOSQUITO-BORNE DENGUE-LIKE VIRUS
Chikungunya fever is caused by a dengue-like virus usually carried by the Aedes aegypti and also by the Aedes albopictus and Culex mosquitoes.
Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, nausea, joint pain and fatigue; rashes may occur - all signs similar to those of a dengue victim, making chikungunya hard to detect.
There is currently no effective vaccine for chikungunya fever.
Aspirin should be avoided as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
Gracia Chiang
