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Beyond dengue: The mosquito-borne virus that could be our next big outbreak
Singapore researchers at Sri Lanka’s chikungunya front line find there’s a need for greater regional coordination and increased funding.
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Like dengue, chikungunya prevention relies on controlling Aedes mosquitoes – from eliminating breeding sites to advancing new tools that limit their ability to spread disease, the writers say.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Ruklanthi de Alwis, Neelika Malavige, Lisa Ng and Yeo Tsin Wen
Every year, Singapore braces itself for its familiar battle against dengue. But another mosquito-borne virus is quietly gaining ground across the tropics – one carried by the same Aedes mosquitoes that thrive here. Chikungunya, long overshadowed by dengue, is re-emerging with new mutations, more severe symptoms and a worrying ability to spread in urban environments.
Already, Singapore has experienced a spike in chikungunya cases, with 17 reported from the start of the year to Aug 2 – more than double the number for the same period in 2024, said the Communicable Diseases Agency. This follows a recent chikungunya outbreak in Guangdong, China, with cases subsequently reported in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
