622 cases of dengue reported last week

SINGAPORE – The number of reported cases of dengue remained high last week with 622 cases reported between Jan 17 and Jan 23.

This was two cases fewer than the week before, but still higher than any week reported last year, data provided by the National Environment Agency (NEA) showed. The number of cases is also higher compared to the same period over the last three years.

Graph: NEA

The NEA today (Jan 26) urged for members of the public and stakeholders “to take immediate action to stem the further increase in cases”.

Noting that the majority of breeding is found in homes, with the top breeding spots being domestic containers and flower pot plates and trays, the NEA said: “This is of added concern to NEA during the Chinese New Year festive season when households purchase and display Chinese New Year plants.”

Last Friday, a 47-year-old man became the first dengue fatality of the year in Singapore. The man, a Singaporean, was living at Marsiling Rise. He had been admitted to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital last Thursday and died a day later as his condition deteriorated.

The NEA has said the spike in dengue cases could be due to a change in the main circulating dengue virus — the DENV-2 serotype currently accounts for about two-thirds of all dengue cases serotyped here — as well as warmer than usual year-end weather due to the El Nino phenomenon.