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Toa Payoh man is third dengue fatality this year

SINGAPORE — A 79-year-old man who was living on Toa Payoh Lorong 8 has died from dengue, said the authorities today (Nov 29) as they warned of a warmer-than-usual year-end season, which is conducive for the breeding of the Aedes mosquito that carries the disease.

An Aedes mosquito. Bloomberg file photo

An Aedes mosquito. Bloomberg file photo

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SINGAPORE — A 79-year-old man who was living on Toa Payoh Lorong 8 has died from dengue, said the authorities today (Nov 29) as they warned of a warmer-than-usual year-end season, which is conducive for the breeding of the Aedes mosquito that carries the disease.

The man had been admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Wednesday, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a joint statement. His condition deteriorated and he died yesterday. 

This is the third dengue death this year.

Vector control operations to kill adult mosquitoes and destroy any potential breeding habitats are now ongoing at Toa Payoh Lorong 8. 

The area was not an active dengue cluster, the statement noted. 

Residents have been urged to cooperate fully and allow NEA officers to inspect their premises for mosquito breeding activity and to spray insecticide to kill any infective mosquitoes.

The MOH and NEA also said that the El Nino phenomenon that Singapore is experiencing this year could mean that the year-end period — typically cooler than other months — could be “slightly warmer”. 

This “may support faster breeding and maturation cycles of the Aedes mosquitoes and shortened incubation periods for the dengue virus”, they said. 

There were 254 cases in the week ending Nov 21, up 22 per cent from 198 cases the week before. 

As at 3.30pm on Nov 27, there were 228 cases for the week. During the same period last year, the weekly number of cases had been on the decline.

Nevertheless, the number of cases this year so far, at 9,466, is well below levels seen in the previous two years. In 2013, more than 22,000 people were infected with dengue and seven died. Last year, there were 18,335 dengue cases and five deaths.  

The MOH and NEA said: “We need to continue to work as a community to keep dengue cases in check as a large proportion of our population are still susceptible to dengue infection due to the lack of immunity.”

Some tips include inverting pails and plant pot plates, changing water in vases regularly, and capping bamboo pole holders. 

Those infected with dengue are advised to apply repellent as regularly as possible to prevent mosquitoes from biting and picking up the virus from them, and those showing symptoms suggestive of dengue should see their GPs early to be diagnosed. 

Additionally, the statement advised those planning to go overseas for vacation during the current school holidays to mosquito-proof their homes before they travel.

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