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ENSURING SAFETY: NEA officer Sivagnanam Govindasamy (left) and pest exterminator Faizal Hanafiah using an anti-mosquito spraying machine. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
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HEALTH workers have scoured a private housing estate off Upper Thompson Road where two people recently fell ill with chikungunya, but found no sign of the disease, officials revealed yesterday.
Blood samples were taken from 311 people in the Teachers' Estate, but all came back negative for the dengue-like virus, according to a joint statement from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA).
The blitz came after an 86-year-old retiree and her maid were diagnosed last week with the mosquito-borne virus, which usually causes fever, nausea and muscle aches and can be fatal.
Health and environment officers are keen to prevent the spread of chikungunya, which infected 13 people during an outbreak in Little India in January. That outbreak triggered a massive effort to contain the virus, including blood screening and mosquito- breeding checks.
The recent chikungunya cases in Upper Thompson Road also appear to have been transmitted locally, instead of being brought in from another country.
Dengue, another mosquito-borne disease with similar symptoms, is already endemic in the region. Having chikungunya take root in Singapore would complicate efforts to uncover and treat victims of either disease during an epidemic.
Latest figures show that dengue is on the rise here, with four active clusters with more than 10 victims, even as the authorities attempt to get to the bottom of the latest chikungunya cases.
Since Thursday, officers from the NEA have been checking every nook and corner of the housing estate - built in the 1960s to house local teachers - for mosquitoes and spraying insecticide.
So far, they have surveyed more than 170 premises and found 18 mosquito-breeding sites. The NEA said that the operation will continue, with daily checks, until the MOH has ascertained that there is no more risk of transmission.
When The Straits Times visited the estate yesterday, it found a team of six environmental officers and four pest control officers inspecting outdoor locations like drains and treeholes for larvae and stagnant water.
The officers also conducted misting in one of the houses along Tagore Avenue, which was suspected of being a breeding site for mosquitoes.
Although most residents interviewed were indifferent and said this was an 'isolated incident', some were more cautious.
Said Mr Anthony Ng, 61, a resident of Li Po Avenue: 'I have to take precautions because I have four grandchildren. Even at home, we either wear anti-mosquito patches, or spray insect repellent.'
Resident Cedric Monteiro, 70, who is staying in Tu Fu Avenue, attributed the prevalence of mosquitoes to a minority of inconsiderate residents in the estate. 'These people don't take care of their houses, especially bathrooms which are wet and more likely to breed mosquitoes,' he said.
Like dengue, chikungunya is spread through the Aedes mosquito. Symptoms usually appear within days and include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle ache, rash and pain in the joints.
With the latest cases, the total tally of chikungunya cases stands at 23 this year, said the MOH.
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daryltan@sph.com.sg
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