10 contractors to be charged, 21 stop-work orders issued to construction sites for repeated mosquito breeding offences: NEA

• Dengue cases here have declined for a fifth week
• But the 726 cases recorded in a week is still higher than last year’s peak of 663 cases
• Egregious cases of mosquito breeding show that some construction sites are still not carrying out the necessary checks, said NEA
   

SINGAPORE — Ten contractors will be charged in court while 21 stop-work orders have been issued to construction sites for mosquito breeding offences this year, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a press release on Wednesday (Sept 16).

The government clampdown on construction sites comes as Singapore battles what is expected to be its worst dengue outbreak in a year. 

Although dengue cases here declined for a fifth week, the 726 cases recorded in a week is still higher than last year’s peak of 663 cases.

NEA in its press release said it has closed about 89 per cent, or 2,147, of the 2,404 dengue clusters since the start of this year.

As of Tuesday, there are 257 dengue clusters, and as of Wednesday, there have been 29,206 reported dengue cases this year.

NEA said that the total number of dengue clusters reported islandwide remains high. 

For example, there are large dengue clusters located at Aljunied Road, Geylang Road, Geylang East Ave 1 and 2, and Bukit Panjang Ring Road, among others.

Singapore is still in the peak dengue season and weekly cases can continue to remain high beyond October if mosquito prevention measures are not sustained, it said.

DENGUE SURVEILLANCE AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

NEA said that before the start of the circuit breaker period, it instructed construction site operators to maintain a minimum workforce to perform housekeeping and facilitate pest control services within the sites.

Since then, the agency has increased checks at construction sites.

It prioritised audits at construction sites within dengue cluster areas and in close proximity of residential areas. 

All 1,213 such construction sites have been inspected at least once since the start of the circuit breaker period.

Between January and August this year, about 5,000 checks have been done on construction sites with 250 summonses issued. 

In the month of August, 55 per cent fewer Aedes mosquito breeding spots were found at construction sites compared to July. 

However, the agency still found construction sites with multiple mosquito breeding habitats and habitats with profuse mosquito breeding. 

At a construction site located within a dengue cluster at Arnasalam Chetty Road and Kim Yam Road, NEA officers found an air-con compressor, canvas sheet, planter box and a wooden frame with 50 or more larvae at each area.

Meanwhile, at a construction site located within a cluster under surveillance at Serangoon North Ave 1, profuse mosquito breeding habitats were found in units of higher floors with 50 or more larvae at each habitat. 

Stop-work orders are in effect at both sites. 

NEA said such cases of mosquito breeding show that some construction sites are still not carrying out the necessary checks to stamp out mosquito breeding. 

It urged the construction sector to remain vigilant in eradicating mosquito breeding habitats.