Singapore might face a severe outbreak of dengue fever unless urgent community action is taken, the country’s National Environment Agency (NEA) warned on June 3.
Spraying chemical to kill mosquitoes in Singapore on April 17, 2020 (Photo: APF/VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore might face a severeoutbreak of dengue fever unless urgent community action is taken, the country’sNational Environment Agency (NEA) warned on June 3.
The agency issued a release saying the number of denguecases this year is expected to exceed the 15,998 cases reported in 2019, andmay even surpass the 22,170 cases of 2013.
The number of weekly cases is expected to exceed thehistorical high of 891. The 735 cases last week is the highest in more thanfive years, according to NEA.
As of 3 pm on June 2, 9,261 infections hand been detected,far more doubling the figure for the same period last year. In the past twomonths, another five people died from dengue, bringing the total number ofdeaths to 12 so far.
The Ministry of Health said the 12 people who had died wereaged between 56 and 80 years old. Of them, 10 worked or resided in activedengue clusters. There are now 176 active dengue clusters, the biggest at Woodleighwith 181 people infected.
According to the NEA, one factor contributing to the hugeincrease in dengue infections is the change in the dominant dengue serotype toDenV-3, which was last dominant about 30 years ago. This means that few peoplehave immunity against it. There are four dengue serotypes and people are onlyimmune against the type they have previously been infected with.
Meanwhile, the weather is warmer from May to September,allowing mosquitoes to breed more easily./.
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Spraying chemical to kill mosquitoes in Singapore on April 17, 2020 (Photo: APF/VNA) 
