322 cases recorded last week, four new dengue clusters identified by NEA
Today Online 16 Feb 13;
SINGAPORE — The number of dengue cases weekly hit a five-and-a-half-year high last week with 322 cases, while four new dengue clusters have been identified.
The last time numbers reached such levels was in July 2007, when weekly figures hit as high as 426 cases in one week.
The number of dengue cases has been rising steadily in the first six weeks of the year, from 134 cases in the first week to 295 in the fifth week, to last week’s high of 322.
Altogether, there have been 1,442 cases in the first six weeks of the year, compared to 419 during the same period last year. As of 3pm on Thursday, there were 148 cases for the seventh week of the year.
The four new dengue clusters identified by the authorities are Jalan Usaha, Lorong Ong Lye, Block 27, Marine Crescent and Block 55, Marine Terrace and Ubi Avenue 1.
This brings the total number of active dengue clusters to 32.
An area is identified as a dengue cluster when two or more dengue cases occur within 14 days and the homes of the dengue victims are within 150m of each other.
The most active cluster as of Feb 14 is an area consisting of Lorong K Telok Kurau and East Coast Road, which had 123 cases. Within this cluster, St Patrick’s Road had 44 cases.
In an advisory posted on http://www.dengue.gov.sg, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the public should take preventive steps to remove stagnant water in homes.
Those diagnosed with dengue should sleep in air-conditioned rooms or apply insect repellent to break the dengue transmission chain.
The public can visit http://www.dengue.gov.sg, check the myENV app, or sign up for X-Dengue SMS alerts at http://www.x-dengue.com for updates on dengue case numbers and affected areas.
Those who come across mosquito breeding habitats should contact the NEA through its 24-hour hotline at 1800-2255 632, or contact their managing agents or Town Councils to have them removed.
