Singapore marks ASEAN Dengue Day

Evelyn Choo Channel NewsAsia 15 Jun 11;

SINGAPORE : Singapore and nine other ASEAN members marked the inaugural ASEAN Dengue Day on Wednesday with a concerted fight against the virus, which is expected to be most prevalent in the region this month.

In Singapore, an institute has been recognised as a global centre for reference and research by the World Health Organisation.

It is hoping that this collaboration would advance the development of a non-invasive dengue test kit - the first of its kind in the world.

A simple swab of a patient's inner cheek could determine whether he has the virus or not. This non-invasive procedure was once considered a far-fetched idea by scientists.

But researchers at Singapore's Environmental Health Institute have proven that it is not.

Grace Yap, senior research officer, Environmental Health Institute, said: "Contemporary test kits have always been based on blood. This will be the first of its kind that utilises saliva as a diagnostic fluid.

"Because it utilises saliva, the non-invasiveness is definitely a benefit. The benefits of a pregnancy test kit are numerous, and hopefully this particular assay can go down the same route as well."

Using the test kit, one will be able to find out if one has been infected with dengue in just 90 minutes.

Researchers are hoping that the test kit could cost around S$20 - much cheaper than existing blood tests in the market.

The team is now looking for a business partner and hopes to produce a prototype in about three years.

It is working with two dengue endemic countries in the region - Cambodia and Sri Lanka - to collect substantial data from various environments.

Another development is a new and improved mosquito trap - called the Gravitrap - which is being tested in various dengue clusters.

These developments come at a time when the incidence of dengue approaches the peak of a six- to seven-year cycle in Singapore.

The first 22 weeks of 2011 also saw a four per cent on-year increase in cases here.

While the National Environment Agency will do its best to arrest the rising trend, Singaporeans may face a tougher challenge when the incidence of dengue is brought down.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Vivian Balakrishnan, said: "Because of the success in the last few years in bringing down the incidence of dengue, the paradox is that (fewer people) will therefore have immunity.

"And therefore you can expect that if we don't control the vectors, the mosquitoes, adequately, then you will see a significant increase in dengue in Singapore."

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Dengue Day, the minister also advises everyone to take necessary precautions - especially as Singapore enters the warmer months.

- CNA/al

Singapore-made kit to diagnose dengue fever
Feng Zengkun & Melissa Pang Straits Times 16 Jun 11;

TESTING of a Singapore-developed kit that uses saliva to diagnose dengue fever has expanded to Sri Lanka after a similar effort kicked off in Cambodia in March last year.

Developed by the local Environmental Health Institute (EHI), the kit has already been tried out on some 140 patients here from 2005 to 2007 with promising results.

Traditionally, the diagnosis of the potentially lethal ailment, spread by the Aedes mosquito, requires a blood sample.

The extension of testing to Sri Lanka this month was announced at yesterday's first-ever Asean Dengue Day, an annual event to promote prevention and control.

Worldwide, an estimated 2.5 billion people are at risk of dengue. About 70 per cent, or 1.8 billion, are from Asean.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan noted that the disease remains prevalent in the region, though the number of cases here has plunged since a 2005 outbreak affected 14,209 people and killed 25.

'The paradox is that as fewer people get dengue fever, the risk of infection rises as these people are not immune to the disease,' he said.

The EHI was made a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre at the same event to combat this risk. Dr Shin Young Soo, the WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, said: 'The fight against dengue is everyone's concern and efforts must be individual, national and regional.'

At a separate media event at Swissotel The Stamford, Dr Jean Lang, French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur's R&D associate vice-president and dengue-vaccine programme head, said initial results from a phase-three dengue vaccine clinical study in Thailand are expected by end-2012.

The third phase tests the vaccine's efficacy. If it shows promise, the world's first dengue vaccine could be ready by 2015.

Several pharmaceutical firms are racing to develop a vaccine but Sanofi Pasteur is leading the pack.

In 2009, it began building a vaccine production centre in France which will be operational by 2014.

Nearly 45,000 participants from 15 countries are involved in its research into the dengue vaccine.

Stage two clinical trials are also ongoing in Singapore. In 2009, four hospitals administered three doses of the vaccine each to 1,200 participants, aged two to 45.

The results of the local trials are expected to be released at year-end.

To take the sting out of dengue ...
Singapore institute eyes first non-invasive dengue test kit, develops improved mosquito trap
Evelyn Choo Today Online 16 Jun 11;

SINGAPORE - ASEAN Dengue Day took flight yesterday with a concerted 10-member nation assault against the virus. The fight is timely, coming during a month where dengue is expected to be most prevalent in the region.

In Singapore, an institute has been recognised as a global centre for reference and research by the World Health Organization.

It is hoping this collaboration will advance the development of a non-invasive dengue test kit - the first of its kind in the world.

This non-invasive procedure - involving a simple swab of the inner cheek - was once considered a far-fetched idea by scientists. But researchers at Singapore's Environmental Health Institute (EHI) have proven that it is not.

Ms Grace Yap, a senior research officer at the EHI, said: "Contemporary test kits have always been based on blood. This will be the first of its kind that uses saliva as a diagnostic fluid and the non-invasiveness is definitely a benefit."

The kit will enable a person to know, in 90 minutes, if he has been infected with dengue. Researchers are hoping that the test kit could cost around S$20 - much cheaper than existing blood tests in the market. The next step then is to develop the kit commercially. The team is now looking for a business partner and hopes to produce a prototype in about three years.

Another development at the EHI is a new and improved mosquito trap, Gravitrap, which is already being tested in various dengue clusters.

This is a welcome development as the incidence of dengue approaches the peak of a six to seven-year cycle in Singapore.

The first 22 weeks of this year also saw a 4 per cent on-year increase in cases here.

Ironically, while the National Environment Agency will do its best to arrest the rising trend - the more it succeeds, the tougher the challenge will be.

Said Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: "Because of the success in the last few years in bringing down the incidence of dengue, the paradox is that less of our population will therefore have immunity ... If we don't control the vectors, the mosquitoes, adequately, then you will see a significant increase in dengue in Singapore."

Dr Balakrishnan, who was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of ASEAN Dengue Day, urged everyone to take the necessary precautions - especially as Singapore enters the warmer months when dengue transmission is usually at its peak.