Over 60 cases of Den-3 reported there since April, but no deaths
Huang Lijie & Jalelah Abu Baker Straits Times 27 Jun 11;
DENGUE-3, a form of dengue which is uncommon here, has hit the Marsiling area, with more than 60 cases reported since April.
No deaths due to the current outbreak have been reported, and there is no sign that it has spread to other parts of Singapore, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).
Experts say Den-3, which has been previously reported here, is no more serious than the more common types of the virus, such as Den-1 and Den-2.
There are four types of dengue viruses circulating here, with Den-2 being the predominant form. It is detected in about 80 per cent of dengue cases surveyed.
But Singaporeans are more vulnerable to Den-3 because they may have little or no immunity against the infection, causing quicker dengue transmission.
In 2009, an unusually high number of cases of Den-3 was also reported in Little India and Geylang, prompting the Health Ministry to issue circulars to general practitioners (GPs).
The Marsiling area has seen two clusters of dengue transmission recently.
The current cluster, bordered by Marsiling Rise, Marsiling Road and Woodlands Street 13, was detected on May 19. It is the largest cluster so far this year, with 40 cases.
The first cluster was in Marsiling Rise and it was detected on April 21. Transmission in that cluster ended on April 30.
The NEA has stepped up control measures, with the outbreak of the second cluster in Marsiling.
Forty officers were added to an earlier team of 30 to search for and destroy potential mosquito breeding grounds.
The NEA is also now working with GPs in the area to encourage all suspected and confirmed dengue cases to apply insect repellent on themselves during this period.
Public outreach efforts have also been increased, including house visits and the distribution of insect repellents. Grassroots organisations in the area will also be putting up more public educational materials in the estate to notify residents.
The Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council and agencies like the National Parks Board are also conducting checks and removing potential breeding spots.
A total of 53 breeding habitats were found in the first cluster, 38 in homes and 15 in outdoor areas. In the current dengue cluster in Marsiling, a total of 35 breeding habitats have been found so far, 25 in homes and 10 in outdoor areas.
The NEA said enforcement action has been taken against all parties found breeding Aedes mosquitoes.
Mr Hawazi Daipi, an MP for Sembawang GRC (Marsiling) and the chairman of Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council, said: 'The NEA is working with the town council, which has engaged pest control firms to look into it.'
He added: 'It is important for all residents to be vigilant, to make sure that it doesn't spread and that there are no new clusters.'
Dr Fatimah Lateef, an emergency medicine specialist at Singapore General Hospital, said that in most dengue cases, the blood platelet count will drop and there is a tendency for bleeding.
She added that symptoms across the four forms of dengue are quite similar.
'The majority of those affected by dengue get symptoms like body aches, muscle aches, headaches, mild diarrhoea and vomiting,' said Dr Lateef, who is also an MP for Marine Parade GRC.
There were 1,600 dengue cases in the first five months of this year.
Uncommon strain of dengue hits Marsiling area
Ng Lian Cheong and Alvina Soh Today Online 27 Jun 11;
SINGAPORE - An uncommon strain of dengue has hit the Marsiling area, with 61 cases reported as of Friday.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said residents may have little or no immunity against the Den-3 virus, leading to quicker dengue transmission.
However, the NEA assures the public that there is no indication of the strain spreading to other parts of the country at this point in time.
The Marsiling area has seen two clusters of dengue transmission recently, with the first detected at Marsiling Rise on April 21.
The second cluster detected on May 19 is also the largest so far this year.
The NEA has stepped up control measures in the area, including dispatching 70 officers to carry out mass operations to search and destroy potential breeding habitats.
The agency has also roped in various partners, including Sembawang Town Council and the National Parks Board (NParks) to fumigate the area.
At the Woodlands Town Park East, the NEA and NParks carried out search and destroy operations and applied biological controls to get rid of larvae, especially in the forested area. NParks contractors also stepped up combing of the area to remove discarded receptacles.
The NEA is working with general practitioners in the area to encourage all suspected and confirmed dengue cases to apply repellent on themselves during the infective period.
Public outreach efforts - including house visits and the distribution of insect repellents - have also been stepped up.
The NEA is advising residents to be alert to any potential mosquito breeding areas in their homes.
The agency said enforcement action will be taken against all parties found breeding the Aedes mosquito.
Uncommon dengue hits Marsiling
Channel NewsAsia 26 Jun 11;
SINGAPORE: A rarely-seen type of dengue - DEN-3 - has hit the Marsiling area with more than 60 cases reported as of Friday.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said residents may have little or no immunity against the infection, leading to quicker dengue transmission.
However, it added there is no sign for alarm that this form of dengue is spreading to the rest of the island.
The Marsiling area has seen two clusters of dengue transmission recently, with the first detected at Marsiling Rise on April 21.
The second cluster detected on May 19 is also the largest so far this year.
NEA has since stepped up control measures, including dispatching 70 officers to carry out mass operations to search and destroy potential breeding habitats.
The agency has also roped in various partners, including Sembawang Town Council and the National Parks Board to get rid of larvae.
A Marsiling resident told Channel NewsAsia he welcomed the increased monitoring.
Property agent Allen Lee recently contracted dengue along with other members of his family.
Mr Lee, his daughter as well as his domestic worker were affected for the first time.
"My daughter's platelets count dropped tremendously and she was feeling nauseous. She couldn't eat at all (and) was hospitalised at Mt Alvernia (while) my domestic maid was hospitalised at Tan Tock Seng CDC.
"The sad part was my wife had to do all the running (around) because three of us were down," he said.
NEA is also advising residents to be alert to any potential mosquito breeding areas in their homes.
The agency said enforcement action will be taken against all parties found breeding the Aedes mosquitoes.
Meanwhile, Mr Lee said he has also taken his own measures.
"My domestic worker has been taught... how to check for breeding (in places)... like pots of plants.
"I think the rest of the residents here have to be well-informed and also to do their part as a community," he said.
-CNA/wk
