Number of dengue cases continue on upward trend, with 311 new cases

Channel NewsAsia 6 Sep 16;

SINGAPORE: The number of new dengue cases rose to 311 in the week ending Sep 3, up from 274 the previous week, according to figures released by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (Sep 6).

Another 31 cases were reported between Sunday and 3pm on Monday.

A total of 11,312 dengue cases have been reported in Singapore since the start of the year. Seven people have died of the disease so far, with the latest fatality a 79-year-old man who lived in Eastwood Drive near Upper East Coast Road. There were four dengue fatalities in the whole of 2015.

There are now 59 active dengue clusters in Singapore – up from 58 the previous week – including 13 classified as high-risk. The biggest cluster is in the area near Bedok Rise, where 50 cases have been reported, including 10 in the past fortnight.

A dengue cluster near Bedok Rise, as of Sep 5, 2016. (Image: NEA)

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and NEA have warned that the number of dengue cases in Singapore may exceed 30,000 this year, higher than the record of 22,170 reported in 2013.

Singapore also reported its first case of locally transmitted Zika late last month. It has since confirmed a total of 258 cases, and authorities have warned of more likely positive cases.

- CNA/mz