S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia 5 Sep 08;
SINGAPORE : Twenty-eight new cases of chikungunya fever have been detected since the last update on August 25.
A joint statement from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Health Ministry said 16 of the new cases were imported.
Eight of the imported cases are Singaporeans. Among this group, seven had travelled to Malaysia and one to the Maldives. Among the foreigners, seven are Malaysians and one is an Indonesian.
Out of the 12 local cases, 11 are linked to existing clusters. Of these, four come from the Kranji Way cluster, one from Lim Chu Kang and the remaining six from the Sungei Kadut cluster.
An additional sporadic case is a 28-year-old general worker who stays at Mandai Estate and has no fixed work site. He also has no recent overseas travel history.
NEA said mosquito control remains the primary measure to prevent the spread of chikungunya fever.
It has deployed 13 officers to carry out mosquito control operations in the Mandai Estate area. Mosquito breeding sites have been detected and destroyed in 10 out over 85 premises inspected.
In the Lim Chu Kang farm areas, NEA said it has deployed as many as 22 officers daily to conduct inspections. It has so far detected and destroyed more than 77 mosquito breeding habitats in the farms.
It has also extended its checks to cover nearby vacant lands and forested areas.
Preventive measures such as oiling and larviciding are also carried out to rid the areas of potential breeding habitats.
NEA said fogging operations remains a last resort to mosquito control and are used in selected areas where the adult mosquito population is high.
It added that visitors and workers in the affected areas should take the necessary precautions as the predominant species of Aedes mosquitoes in those areas tend to favour outdoor habitats.
As of Thursday, a total of 178 cases was reported this year.
The Health Ministry said those who develop symptoms of chikungunya - which include fever, joint pain and rashes - should consult their doctors immediately. - CNA/ms
Chikungunya: 28 new cases in fortnight
Straits Times 6 Sep 08;
A 56-YEAR-OLD delivery man who was in Lim Chu Kang Lane 5A only long enough to drop off some goods is among 28 new chikungunya cases in the last two weeks. This brings the year's total to 178 cases.
Four new cases cropped up in Kranji Way, bringing the toll there to 29 cases; six were reported in Sungei Kadut, which has had 14 to date.
An isolated case was found in Mandai, where a 28-year-old general worker was affected.
The National Environment Agency has deployed 13 officers in Mandai estate to check for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes were found breeding in 10 of the 85 houses checked.
Owners who do not comply with orders to take steps to prevent this can be fined up to $50,000.
The remaining 16 new infections are 'imported cases', among those who travelled to and from mainly Malaysia.
Looking at the year's total of 178 cases, 86 have been imported ones. Locally acquired infections surfaced in 19 locations here.
Symptoms of chikungunya, which is caused by a mosquito-borne virus, include fever, rashes and joint pain.
The Ministry of Health advises people who develop these symptoms to consult their doctors immediately.
GRACE CHUA
Chikungunya imported via Causeway
Today Online 6 Sep 08;
THE number of chikungunya cases here has gone up by 28 since Aug 25, with 16 of these being imported — mostly from Malaysia.
Among the 16 were eight Singapore residents, with seven of them having travelled up-country, and the other to the Maldives prior to the onset of their illness.
The remaining eight comprised seven Malaysians, who either live in Johor or had made trips to Malaysia; and an Indonesian who had come to Singapore for medical treatment.
This prompted the Ministry of Health (MOH), in itsupdate on Friday, to caution that “in the absence of avaccine, and the presence of the aedes mosquito, Singapore remains vulnerableand receptive to the introduction of chikungunya outbreaks.
“It is likely that caseswill continue to occur aslong as situations in neighbouring countries do not improve.”
Malaysia had reported an increase in the number of suspected cases of chikungunya last week — 224, compared with only 179 the previous week.
Johor, Malacca, Perak, Penang and Sarawak were the most active states, according a Malaysian health ministry official.
Bernama news agency said on Thursday that nationwide, there were a total 1,703 cases notified, with Johor registering the most: 996 cases.
Meanwhile, of the 12 new local cases here, 11 were linked to existing clusters such as Kranji Way, Lim Chu Kang and Sungei Kadut, while the 12th is a general worker living in Mandai Estate.
The latest figures take the total number of notified cases this year to 178 as of Thursday, said the MOH.
