14 malaria cases in Singapore last month

Desmond Wong, Channel NewsAsia 6 Jun 09;

SINGAPORE: In May, 14 people in Singapore came down with malaria which is a serious and potentially deadly disease that is transmitted through bites from infected Anopheles mosquitoes.

The Health Ministry (MOH) said it is investigating the cases as suspected local transmission as all 14 cases did not travel overseas recently.

The first malaria cluster at Jurong Island involved five foreign workers, aged between 25 and 37. The workers came down with fever, headache and chills between May 3 and 25.

Four of the workers stay at the same dormitory and work at the same site on Jurong Island, while the fifth worker works near their dormitory and worksite.

The second cluster at Sungei Kadut and Mandai involved eight foreign workers from different dormitories and one full-time National Serviceman. This group of patients fell sick between May 16 and 30.

As of Saturday, 12 of the 14 patients have been discharged.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has conducted inspections at the worksites and dormitories in the affected areas, and has instructed dormitory operators to carry out pest control measures.

MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public on any new developments.


- CNA/so