New dengue cases last week rose slightly to 108 after six-week decline

A man walks past a "fight dengue" banner in Aljunied Crescent. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - The number of new dengue cases last week rose slightly to 108, halting a six-week decline.

This was 14 more cases of the mosquito-borne virus than the previous week, which had registered the lowest figure of the year.

As of Monday (Oct 24), a total of 12,366 dengue cases have been reported since the start of 2016 - more than the 11,286 cases in the whole of last year.

While there has been an overall decrease in cases, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has repeatedly stressed on its dengue website the need to remain vigilant and continue efforts to suppress the Aedes mosquito population.

The mosquito is responsible for transmitting both the dengue and Zika viruses, as well as yellow fever and chikungunya.

NEA told Today last week that about 2,000 households had been penalised since it implemented a $200 fine in March for those found breeding mosquitoes at home.

The figure was more than thrice that of the 600 households fined last year.

On Aug 30, an 11-year-old boy who lived in Woodleigh Close became the latest victim of dengue. His death brought the number of people who have died from it this year to eight, twice the number recorded in 2015.

NEA last week released male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria at Braddell Heights Housing Estate, as part of a small-scale trial to control the spread of dengue.

The trial will be extended to two other estates in Nee Soon East and Tampines West within the next month.

Meanwhile, there were 20 dengue clusters across the island as of Monday, with only two classified as high risk.

The cluster at Yishun Avenue 4 and Yishun Street 61 remains the highest risk with a total of 77 cases, including five in the past fortnight.

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