2005 dengue outbreak in Singapore
Encyclopedia
In the 2005 dengue outbreak in Singapore, a significant rise in the number of dengue fever
cases was reported in Singapore
, becoming the country's worst health crisis since the 2003 SARS epidemic. In October 2005, there were signs that the dengue fever outbreak had peaked, as the number of weekly cases had declined and the outbreak of this infectious disease
was under control by the end of 2005.
In 2005, there were a total of 13,984 dengue fever cases and 19 people died. The outbreak peaked in the months of September and October, when it caused hospitals to cancel some elective surgery due to the need to allocate more beds for dengue patients.
Dengue fever is transmitted to humans by the mosquito
Aedes aegypti
. The virus can cause fever, severe headache, joint and muscular pains, vomiting, diarrhea
and rashes. There is no commercially ready vaccine
for dengue.
Singapore's health-care system is helping to maintain a low fatality rate at 0.1% (2005), which is lower than Southeast Asia
's regional average of 0.8% in 2004, according to the World Health Organization
.
The National Environment Agency
said that the dengue fever problem may be worsening because of higher temperatures and changes in viral strains. The mean temperature has risen to 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) from 27.8 °C in 2003.
In the second week of September, more than 100 new cases were reported daily and many were admitted to public hospitals.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan
said that one of the concerns is that more Singaporeans are infected with Dengue Type 3, which is a new strain of the dengue virus.
Some experts, such as Dr Paul Reitner, Professor of Entomology
at the Pasteur Institute
in France
, suggested that Singapore's success in suppressing the dengue has partly contributed to this year sudden increase in dengue cases. The population born over the last two decades has a low herd immunity
and therefore more susceptible to the virus. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/171227/1/.html
In September, an inter-ministerial committee headed by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Yaacob Ibrahim
, was formed to tackle the dengue outbreak. Yaacob Ibrahim
will deliver a ministerial statement on the issue in the parliament
on September 19.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/167418/1/.html
An inter-agency Dengue Coordination Committee and a community-centred Dengue Watch Committee have also been established. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/167707/1/.html The Dengue Coordination Committee involves the permanent secretaries of the Environment, Health, and National Development ministries, and Chief Executive Officers of key government statutory boards, and it aims to ensure that the various policy initiatives by the various ministries are well-coordinated. Land Transport Authority
(LTA) would make sure that bus-stops, Mass Rapid Transit
stations, construction sites are free of mosquito breeding. Singapore Land Authority
(SLA) were also stepping up their checks on vacant state land and properties, while the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and town councils are stepping up the cleaning of common areas.
The Dengue Watch Committee is chaired by Khoo Tsai Kee who is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources. He will coordinate with the five mayors in Singapore to reach out to the 84 advisers and the town councils, to oversee dengue prevention measures at the community level.
A panel of experts had also been set up to advise the government on anti-dengue measures. The panel is chaired by Dr Chee Yam Cheng, Clinical Professor and Assistant Chief Executive Officer of National Healthcare Group
.
Singapore launched a number of measures to contain the dengue outbreak, including public awareness campaigns and regular fogging
with insecticide
s. 4,200 volunteers, 970 environmental control officers hired by construction sites, 350 so-called "mozzie busters" made up of girl guides and scouts, have participated in the preventive efforts.
The Ministry of Health
stepped up its monitoring of common mosquito breeding sites and launched an online map listing "hotspots" for the insects. Residents who allow mosquito
es to breed in their homes can be fined between S$100 to S$200, and heavier penalties may be issued for construction sites found with standing water. The number of officers conducting such checks have tripled since the start of the year to 360, and may increase to 510 by December.
The National Environment Agency
has allocated an additional S$7.5 million on top of its existing S$2.5 million budget to clear drains of stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. Singapore Land Authority
has also stepped up its checks on vacant state properties.
On 10 September, National Environment Agency
started collecting blood samples from residents of Sims Avenue
, a dengue hotspot, to help track the infection. The residents were asked to provide voluntarily 5 millilitres of blood sample and a swab of saliva
for the study. The samples were to be analysed for antibodies against dengue infection in the last 2 months.
The National Parks Board
(NParks) is considering removing broad-leafed plants which may breed mosquitoes. These plants like palm trees or any plants with axils capable of trapping water, are potential breeding sites. Holes in tree trunks is also a concern, and NParks workers have been filling these holes with sands. NParks has engaged 16 pest companies to stop mosquito breeding in the parks it manages. Due to the dengue threat, some schools are cancelling excursions to the parks.
urged the public to help in the fight against the disease. As households are common breeding grounds for mosquito
s and are less accessible for fogging, residents can help by checking for stagnant water in their households and neighbourhood and ensuring no blockage of drains. Due to the short life cycle of Aedes aegypti
mosquito
s (7 to 10 days), frequent checks are necessary to eradicate dengue. These checks only take several minutes and could potentially save lives.
Dr Kevin Palmer, World Health Organization
's regional adviser for mosquito-borne diseases, said that it is important for ordinary residents to play their part. He added that fogging alone was not effective as winds could blow the insecticide away. http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,94306,00.html Yaacob Ibrahim
also said that fogging only kills adult mosquitoes, but not the larva
and therefore less effective compared to removing breeding sites. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/167709/1/.html
Singapore residents are also arming themselves with anti-mosquito products including insecticide
s, repellents
and electronic mosquito traps. For repellents, experts are recommending those with an active ingredients, such as DEET
which provide more effective and lasting protection.
Some residents are buying a potted plant called Citronella
and placing it at their home. The perennial grass plant, imported from Cameron Highlands
, gives off a strong lemon-like fragrance which repels mosquitoes.
To prevent the spread of the virus, those who are already infected with dengue are encouraged to use mosquito repellents, wear long-sleeved clothing and sleep under mosquito nets to prevent mosquitoes from biting them again and spreading the virus to others.
described as "sort of a carpet-combing exercise". The four neighbourhoods involved in the weekend blitz are Ang Mo Kio
, Yishun
, Hougang
and Marsiling, which are among the worst affected regions.
In this "search-and-destroy" operation, mosquito-fighting "commandos" combed the streets, checked the drains, looked at the bins and the roof structures at all estates to seek and destroy breeding sites. They found 172 mosquito-breeding sites, mainly flower pot trays, water containers, litters and tree holes.
/Bishan
, Tampines
, Choa Chu Kang
, Bedok
and Boon Lay
/Jurong
, and more than 200 breeding sites were found.
, West Coast
and Jurong East
. 187 breeding sites were found and removed.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/171134/1/.html
General practitioners and polyclinics are on high alert to check for cases of dengue and are ordering more patients to have their blood tested for suspected dengue. The test, which takes fifteen minutes, is based on platelet
count;
dengue sufferers have 100,000 or lower platelet count as compared to 140,000 to 400,000 of a healthy person. If a suspected dengue is diagnosed, the patient will be referred to a hospital for more accurate testing.
launched a DNA- and RNA-based diagnostic kits for dengue, avian influenza and malaria
. The kit is based on technologies licensed from A*STAR and the National University of Singapore
. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/160329/1/.html
Another Singapore company Attogenix Biosystems has also developed a biochip called AttoChip which has successfully undergone an independent clinical trial conducted by Tan Tock Seng Hospital
and is 98 percent accurate. The AttoChip identifies genes, viruses and bacteria-causing
diseases from a blood sample. It can detect the presence of the dengue virus within two to three days of the onset of the virus. http://www.tec.gov.sg/dengue_today.htmlhttp://www.dso.org.sg/home/newsevents/newsevents_media_showpage.aspx?id=24
Dengue outbreaks are also reported in many countries this year, especially in Costa Rica
, India
, Indonesia
, Malaysia, Pakistan
, the Philippines
, Sri Lanka
and Thailand
. According to World Health Organization
, about 50 million people are infected worldwide each year.
Dengue fever
Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles...
cases was reported in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, becoming the country's worst health crisis since the 2003 SARS epidemic. In October 2005, there were signs that the dengue fever outbreak had peaked, as the number of weekly cases had declined and the outbreak of this infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
was under control by the end of 2005.
Status of outbreak
| Status (as of December 31, 2005) | |
| Number of cases | 13,984 |
|---|---|
| Number of deaths | 19 |
In 2005, there were a total of 13,984 dengue fever cases and 19 people died. The outbreak peaked in the months of September and October, when it caused hospitals to cancel some elective surgery due to the need to allocate more beds for dengue patients.
Dengue fever is transmitted to humans by the mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
Aedes aegypti
Aedes aegypti
The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases. The mosquito can be recognized by white markings on legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the thorax...
. The virus can cause fever, severe headache, joint and muscular pains, vomiting, diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
and rashes. There is no commercially ready vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
for dengue.
Singapore's health-care system is helping to maintain a low fatality rate at 0.1% (2005), which is lower than Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
's regional average of 0.8% in 2004, according to the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
.
The National Environment Agency
National Environment Agency
National Environment Agency formed on 1 July 2002, is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore. As a statutory board, it gives NEA greater administrative autonomy to be more nimble in the protection of the environment...
said that the dengue fever problem may be worsening because of higher temperatures and changes in viral strains. The mean temperature has risen to 28.2 °C (82.8 °F) from 27.8 °C in 2003.
In the second week of September, more than 100 new cases were reported daily and many were admitted to public hospitals.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan
Khaw Boon Wan
Khaw Boon Wan is a politician from Singapore. He is currently the country's Minister for National Development and the Chairman of the governing People's Action Party . He was previously the Minister for Health from August 2004 to May 2011...
said that one of the concerns is that more Singaporeans are infected with Dengue Type 3, which is a new strain of the dengue virus.
Some experts, such as Dr Paul Reitner, Professor of Entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
at the Pasteur Institute
Pasteur Institute
The Pasteur Institute is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, who made some of the greatest breakthroughs in modern medicine at the time, including pasteurization and vaccines for anthrax...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, suggested that Singapore's success in suppressing the dengue has partly contributed to this year sudden increase in dengue cases. The population born over the last two decades has a low herd immunity
Herd immunity
Herd immunity describes a form of immunity that occurs when the vaccination of a significant portion of a population provides a measure of protection for individuals who have not developed immunity...
and therefore more susceptible to the virus. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/171227/1/.html
Inter-ministerial and inter-agency committees
Yaacob Ibrahim
Yaacob bin Ibrahim is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.-Education and early career:Yaacob graduated from the University of...
, was formed to tackle the dengue outbreak. Yaacob Ibrahim
Yaacob Ibrahim
Yaacob bin Ibrahim is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.-Education and early career:Yaacob graduated from the University of...
will deliver a ministerial statement on the issue in the parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
on September 19.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/167418/1/.html
An inter-agency Dengue Coordination Committee and a community-centred Dengue Watch Committee have also been established. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/167707/1/.html The Dengue Coordination Committee involves the permanent secretaries of the Environment, Health, and National Development ministries, and Chief Executive Officers of key government statutory boards, and it aims to ensure that the various policy initiatives by the various ministries are well-coordinated. Land Transport Authority
Land Transport Authority
The Land Transport Authority is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Singapore Government.-History:...
(LTA) would make sure that bus-stops, Mass Rapid Transit
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
stations, construction sites are free of mosquito breeding. Singapore Land Authority
Singapore Land Authority
The Singapore Land Authority is a statutory board under the Ministry of Law of the Singapore Government.-History:...
(SLA) were also stepping up their checks on vacant state land and properties, while the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and town councils are stepping up the cleaning of common areas.
The Dengue Watch Committee is chaired by Khoo Tsai Kee who is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources. He will coordinate with the five mayors in Singapore to reach out to the 84 advisers and the town councils, to oversee dengue prevention measures at the community level.
A panel of experts had also been set up to advise the government on anti-dengue measures. The panel is chaired by Dr Chee Yam Cheng, Clinical Professor and Assistant Chief Executive Officer of National Healthcare Group
National Healthcare Group
National Healthcare Group is a Singapore group of healthcare institutions. The group was formed in 2000 and has one public hospital across the island, three specialist centres and runs eight polyclinics as well. The group operates Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health...
.
Preventive measures
Singapore launched a number of measures to contain the dengue outbreak, including public awareness campaigns and regular fogging
Fogging
Fogging may refer to:*Distance fog, a technique used in 3D computer graphics*Fogging , adverse impacts in photography*Fogging , a technique for visual censorship...
with insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
s. 4,200 volunteers, 970 environmental control officers hired by construction sites, 350 so-called "mozzie busters" made up of girl guides and scouts, have participated in the preventive efforts.
The Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health (Singapore)
The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
stepped up its monitoring of common mosquito breeding sites and launched an online map listing "hotspots" for the insects. Residents who allow mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es to breed in their homes can be fined between S$100 to S$200, and heavier penalties may be issued for construction sites found with standing water. The number of officers conducting such checks have tripled since the start of the year to 360, and may increase to 510 by December.
The National Environment Agency
National Environment Agency
National Environment Agency formed on 1 July 2002, is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore. As a statutory board, it gives NEA greater administrative autonomy to be more nimble in the protection of the environment...
has allocated an additional S$7.5 million on top of its existing S$2.5 million budget to clear drains of stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. Singapore Land Authority
Singapore Land Authority
The Singapore Land Authority is a statutory board under the Ministry of Law of the Singapore Government.-History:...
has also stepped up its checks on vacant state properties.
On 10 September, National Environment Agency
National Environment Agency
National Environment Agency formed on 1 July 2002, is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore. As a statutory board, it gives NEA greater administrative autonomy to be more nimble in the protection of the environment...
started collecting blood samples from residents of Sims Avenue
Sims Avenue
Sims Avenue is a road in Singapore from Kallang Road to Jalan Eunos. It has bus lane in the whole stretch, with one of them between Kallang Road and Sims Way is a full-day bus lane. It extends as Sims Avenue East, and continues to the Siglap Road. The extension after Siglap Road is named New Upper...
, a dengue hotspot, to help track the infection. The residents were asked to provide voluntarily 5 millilitres of blood sample and a swab of saliva
Saliva
Saliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
for the study. The samples were to be analysed for antibodies against dengue infection in the last 2 months.
The National Parks Board
National Parks Board
The National Parks Board is a statutory board of the Singapore Government.The National Parks Board is responsible for providing and enhancing the greenery of Singapore. NParks manages around 300 parks, the park connector network and the roadside greenery in Singapore...
(NParks) is considering removing broad-leafed plants which may breed mosquitoes. These plants like palm trees or any plants with axils capable of trapping water, are potential breeding sites. Holes in tree trunks is also a concern, and NParks workers have been filling these holes with sands. NParks has engaged 16 pest companies to stop mosquito breeding in the parks it manages. Due to the dengue threat, some schools are cancelling excursions to the parks.
Community response
Health Minister Khaw Boon WanKhaw Boon Wan
Khaw Boon Wan is a politician from Singapore. He is currently the country's Minister for National Development and the Chairman of the governing People's Action Party . He was previously the Minister for Health from August 2004 to May 2011...
urged the public to help in the fight against the disease. As households are common breeding grounds for mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
s and are less accessible for fogging, residents can help by checking for stagnant water in their households and neighbourhood and ensuring no blockage of drains. Due to the short life cycle of Aedes aegypti
Aedes aegypti
The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases. The mosquito can be recognized by white markings on legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the thorax...
mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
s (7 to 10 days), frequent checks are necessary to eradicate dengue. These checks only take several minutes and could potentially save lives.
Dr Kevin Palmer, World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
's regional adviser for mosquito-borne diseases, said that it is important for ordinary residents to play their part. He added that fogging alone was not effective as winds could blow the insecticide away. http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,94306,00.html Yaacob Ibrahim
Yaacob Ibrahim
Yaacob bin Ibrahim is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.-Education and early career:Yaacob graduated from the University of...
also said that fogging only kills adult mosquitoes, but not the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
and therefore less effective compared to removing breeding sites. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/167709/1/.html
Singapore residents are also arming themselves with anti-mosquito products including insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
s, repellents
Insect repellent
An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourages insects from landing or climbing on that surface. There are also insect repellent products available based on sound production, particularly ultrasound...
and electronic mosquito traps. For repellents, experts are recommending those with an active ingredients, such as DEET
DEET
N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, abbreviated DEET, is a slightly yellow oil. It is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents...
which provide more effective and lasting protection.
Some residents are buying a potted plant called Citronella
Citronella
Citronella is a word used for several things, including:* Citronella , a genus of trees and shrubs in the Cardiopteridaceae* Citronella oil, an insect-repelling essential oil derived from Cymbopogon...
and placing it at their home. The perennial grass plant, imported from Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. It covers an area of .To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak....
, gives off a strong lemon-like fragrance which repels mosquitoes.
To prevent the spread of the virus, those who are already infected with dengue are encouraged to use mosquito repellents, wear long-sleeved clothing and sleep under mosquito nets to prevent mosquitoes from biting them again and spreading the virus to others.
First blitz, 17-18 September
On the weekend of 17-18 September, more than 700 officers and volunteers launched a house-to-house campaign to remove breeding sites at four neighbourhoods, in what Minister Mah Bow TanMah Bow Tan
Mah Bow Tan is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently a Member of Parliament representing the Tampines Group Representation Constituency...
described as "sort of a carpet-combing exercise". The four neighbourhoods involved in the weekend blitz are Ang Mo Kio
Ang Mo Kio
Ang Mo Kio（宏茂桥） is a heartland new town located in north central Singapore, and is generally within the North-East Region. It contains many of the common features of the island nation's neighbourhoods, e.g. hawker centres, wet markets and HDB housing blocks. Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien...
, Yishun
Yishun
Yishun, or Nee Soon as it was initially named, is a suburban town in the northern part of Singapore, encompassing the Yishun Planning Area, in the North Region, which includes Yishun New Town and the Nee Soon private residential estate....
, Hougang
Hougang
Hougang is an urban planning area and a suburb in the north-eastern area of the city-state of Singapore. Under classification by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the area is part of the North-East Region, an urban planning division. Hougang borders Sengkang in the north and Serangoon to its...
and Marsiling, which are among the worst affected regions.
In this "search-and-destroy" operation, mosquito-fighting "commandos" combed the streets, checked the drains, looked at the bins and the roof structures at all estates to seek and destroy breeding sites. They found 172 mosquito-breeding sites, mainly flower pot trays, water containers, litters and tree holes.
Second blitz, 24-25 September
In the following weekend, five more areas were added to the weekend blitz, namely Toa PayohToa Payoh
Toa Payoh is a district located in the Central Region of Singapore. It commonly refers to the Housing and Development Board housing estate of Toa Payoh New Town, one of the earliest satellite public housing estates in Singapore....
/Bishan
Bishan
Bishan is a neighbourhood of the city-state of Singapore situated in the Central Region, measuring approximately three by three kilometres. Primarily a housing estate, Flats here are generally more expensive compared to other estates due to its location in the central region, which commands a...
, Tampines
Tampines
Tampines is the largest residential area in the city-state of Singapore and is located in the East Region of the main island. The town is so named because in the 1900s a large forest of Tampines trees were there....
, Choa Chu Kang
Choa Chu Kang
Choa Chu Kang is a major residential town and neighbourhood and is a suburban area in the West Region of Singapore...
, Bedok
Bedok
Bedok is a neighbourhood in the eastern part of Singapore. Bedok New Town is the fifth Housing and Development Board new town; its development started in April 1973 and continued over some 15 years....
and Boon Lay
Boon Lay
Boon Lay is a residential precinct in Jurong, named after Mr , a prominent businessman in the late 19th century and early 20th century who owned the land where the precinct stands, when a requisition of 1.012km² of land from his estate was done by the war department of the then colonial government...
/Jurong
Jurong
Jurong is the largest town in the western part of Singapore, consisting of 11 residential precincts, 14 industrial districts, 1 military zone and 1 Waterfront district. It resembles Woodlands, the largest town in the northern part of Singapore, which is smaller in size, has smaller industrial area...
, and more than 200 breeding sites were found.
Third blitz, 1-2 October
More than one thousand volunteers were involved in this third blitz to cover areas including KallangKallang
Kallang is an urban planning area and a subdivision located in the southeastern part of Singapore.It is probably best known for being the location of the Singapore Indoor Stadium & the old National Stadium, as well as the new Singapore Sports Hub...
, West Coast
West Coast, Singapore
West Coast is a town located south of Clementi and west of Pasir Panjang in the Southwest Singapore. The area currently lies in the West Coast GRC.-History:...
and Jurong East
Jurong East
Jurong East is a neighbourhood in Singapore, bounded by the Pan Island Expressway, a canal and the shoreline of Jurong Lake, Jurong Town Hall Road, the eastern side of Jurong Gardens, Ayer Rajah Expressway, Penjuru Road, West Coast Road, Sungei Pandan and back to the Pan Island Expressway.It is...
. 187 breeding sites were found and removed.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/171134/1/.html
Treatment
In September, Singapore experienced a drastic rise of dengue cases. In the first week alone, 547 new cases were reported and many required hospital care. As the treatment lasts about 10 days, many hospitals across Singapore are experiencing shortage of hospitals beds. To cope with the strain, hospitals are postponing non-emergency operations to accommodate the dengue patients.General practitioners and polyclinics are on high alert to check for cases of dengue and are ordering more patients to have their blood tested for suspected dengue. The test, which takes fifteen minutes, is based on platelet
Platelet
Platelets, or thrombocytes , are small,irregularly shaped clear cell fragments , 2–3 µm in diameter, which are derived from fragmentation of precursor megakaryocytes. The average lifespan of a platelet is normally just 5 to 9 days...
count;
dengue sufferers have 100,000 or lower platelet count as compared to 140,000 to 400,000 of a healthy person. If a suspected dengue is diagnosed, the patient will be referred to a hospital for more accurate testing.
Dengue diagnostic kits
In July 2005, a Singapore life science start-up company Veredus LaboratoriesVeredus Laboratories
Veredus Laboratories is a medical device company in Singapore, specialising in developing portable diagnostic tool kit.In July 2005, Veredus Laboratories launched a DNA- and RNA-based diagnostic kits for dengue, avian influenza and malaria. The kit is based on technologies licensed from A*STAR and...
launched a DNA- and RNA-based diagnostic kits for dengue, avian influenza and malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. The kit is based on technologies licensed from A*STAR and the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/160329/1/.html
Another Singapore company Attogenix Biosystems has also developed a biochip called AttoChip which has successfully undergone an independent clinical trial conducted by Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
The Tan Tock Seng Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Singapore after the Singapore General Hospital, but its accident and emergency department is the busiest in the country largely due to its geographically centralised location...
and is 98 percent accurate. The AttoChip identifies genes, viruses and bacteria-causing
diseases from a blood sample. It can detect the presence of the dengue virus within two to three days of the onset of the virus. http://www.tec.gov.sg/dengue_today.htmlhttp://www.dso.org.sg/home/newsevents/newsevents_media_showpage.aspx?id=24
In other countries
| Country | Cases | Deaths | Date of Information | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambodia Cambodia Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia... |
20,000 | 38 | Sep. | http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.215931004&par=0 |
| Costa Rica Costa Rica Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.... |
19,000 | 1 | 7 Sep. | http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07212679.htm |
| India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... , (West Bengal West Bengal West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP... ) |
90,000 | 1,500 | Sep. | http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/02/asia/AS_GEN_India_Dengue_Outbreak.php |
| Indonesia Indonesia Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an... |
80,837 | 1,099 | Jan. 2006 | http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=176076 |
| Malaysia | 32,950 | 83 | 1 Nov. | http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/11/2/nation/12486682&sec=nation |
| Martinique Martinique Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados... |
6,000 | 2 | 26 Sep. | http://www3.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/09/26/degnue.island.ap/ |
| Philippines Philippines The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam... |
21,537 | 280 | 2 Oct. | http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=53192 |
| Singapore | 12,700 | 19 | 22 Oct. | http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/publications/listmore.do?id=pub_title_commdisease&cid=pub_newsletters |
| Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the... |
3,000 | - | 16 Sep. | http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/international/news/20050916p2g00m0in014000c.html |
| Thailand Thailand Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... |
31,000 | 58 | Sep. | http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.215931004&par=0 |
| Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles... |
35,000 | 108 | Sep. | http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.215931004&par=0 |
| Vietnam Vietnam Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –... |
20,000 | 28 | 4 Oct. | http://www.thsv.org/news_details.aspx?newsID=883 |
| Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan... |
4,800 | 50 | 11 Dec 2006. | http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.215931004&par=0 |
| Total† | 232,724 | 3256 | — | — |
| †For listed countries only. World Health Organization World Health Organization The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health... estimates that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide each year. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/ |
||||
Dengue outbreaks are also reported in many countries this year, especially in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. According to World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, about 50 million people are infected worldwide each year.
See also
- Ministry of HealthMinistry of Health (Singapore)The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
- National Environment AgencyNational Environment AgencyNational Environment Agency formed on 1 July 2002, is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore. As a statutory board, it gives NEA greater administrative autonomy to be more nimble in the protection of the environment...
- Mosquito control
- 2006 dengue outbreak in Pakistan2006 dengue outbreak in PakistanIn the 2006 dengue outbreak in Pakistan, a significant rise in the number of dengue fever cases was reported in Pakistan, becoming the country's worst health crisis; there are signs that the infectious disease is spreading to different parts of the country....
External links
- http://www.dengue.gov.sg/ - official website for Campaign Against Dengue
- Dengue Hotspots - Ministry of HealthMinistry of Health (Singapore)The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
- Dengue Prevention Checklist - National Environment AgencyNational Environment AgencyNational Environment Agency formed on 1 July 2002, is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Singapore. As a statutory board, it gives NEA greater administrative autonomy to be more nimble in the protection of the environment...
- FAQs on Dengue - Ministry of HealthMinistry of Health (Singapore)The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
- Weekly Infectious Diseases Bulletin - Ministry of HealthMinistry of Health (Singapore)The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
News articles
- Environment Minister says dengue situation under control - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(8 January 2006) - Another person dies from dengue, bringing death toll to 12 this year - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(28 September 2005) - Mosquito-breeding sites found at one in 10 housing blocks - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(19 September 2005) - Singaporeans snap up Citronella to repel mosquitoes - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(18 September 2005) - Asia scrambles to tackle mosquito menace as dengue alerts go out - Mainichi ShimbunMainichi ShimbunThe is one of the major newspapers in Japan, published by .-History:The history of the Mainichi Shimbun begins with founding of two papers during the Meiji period. The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun was founded first, in 1872. The Mainichi claims that it is the oldest existing Japanese daily newspaper...
(16 September 2005) - Desperate times demand offbeat solutions as world watches S'pore vs mosquito - TodayToday (Singapore newspaper)Today is a free English-language compact in Singapore published by government-owned MediaCorp print media arm. It is distributed from Monday to Sunday....
(15 September 2005) - NParks considers removing trees, plants which may breed mosquitoes - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(15 September 2005) - Sale of anti-mosquito products up at pharmacies, supermarkets - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(15 September 2005) - Dengue-hit Singapore to scour city for mosquitos - ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
(14 September 2005) - Singapore out to destroy dengue mosquitoes - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(14 September 2005) - SLA doubles dengue checks on vacant state properties - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(12 September 2005) - Aedes mosquito breeding patterns may have changed: experts - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(12 September 2005) - ENV to study how fogging practices are conducted - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(11 September 2005) - Inter-agency panel, watch group set up to tackle rising dengue cases - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(11 September 2005) - Health Minister seeks to reduce dengue cases by half - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(11 September 2005) - WHO'S verdict on S'pore best dengue defence in the world worst dengue outbreak in the world - The New PaperThe New PaperThe New Paper is Singapore's second-highest circulating paid English-language newspaper, first launched on July 26, 1988, by Singapore Press Holdings . According to SPH, its average daily circulation for August 2010 was 101600....
(11 September 2005) - Current fogging practices ineffective in killing the Aedes mosquitoes - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(11 September 2005) - Another 125 dengue cases reported, 85 admitted to hospital - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(10 September 2005) - Inter-ministerial committee formed to tackle dengue situation - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(9 September 2005) - More hospitals receive dengue patients to relieve overcrowding - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(8 September 2005) - NEA to get blood, saliva samples in Sims Ave to test for dengue cases - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(8 September 2005) - Non-urgent operations delayed as hospitals cope with dengue cases - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(7 September 2005) - NEA offers more funds to Town Councils to fight dengue - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(6 September 2005) - The dengue mystery - TodayToday (Singapore newspaper)Today is a free English-language compact in Singapore published by government-owned MediaCorp print media arm. It is distributed from Monday to Sunday....
(2 September 2005) - Singapore Escalates Fight Against Record Surge of Dengue Fever - bloomberg.com (2 September 2005)
- Seven dead this year as dengue fever hits Singapore - ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
(1 September 2005) - Doctors on high alert for dengue cases - Channel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsiaChannel NewsAsia is an English language pan-Asian news network based in Singapore and owned by MediaCorp. Started on 1 March 1999 based in Singapore by Television Corporation of Singapore, it was launched internationally on 12 February 2001 as the international broadcasting arm of Channel...
(1 September 2005)