163 dengue cases detected last week, up 50% from the week before: NEA

SINGAPORE - The number of dengue cases detected in Singapore shot up to 163 in the week of June 4 to 10, up nearly 50 per cent from the week before, when 111 cases were reported.

The National Environment Agency’s (NEA) website on Wednesday showed that there were 31 active dengue clusters as at Tuesday. Of the 31, three were flagged as red alerts, or high-risk areas with 10 or more cases.

A cluster at several Housing Board blocks and the Oleander Towers condominium in Toa Payoh recorded 19 cases in the past two weeks.

A cluster in the Pemimpin area has grown to 28 cases, with six cases detected in the past two weeks.

In Lorong Chuan, a cluster grew to 16 cases, with five cases found in the past two weeks.

An active dengue cluster is defined as an area with active transmission, said the NEA website.

Dengue is spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water.

The total number of dengue cases reported in 2023 stood at 3,595 as at last Saturday.

In March, NEA warned that a dengue outbreak is likely in Singapore with the warmer months of June to August approaching,

amid a surge in the

Aedes aegypti

mosquito population in the community.

This mosquito population is transmitting the less common dengue virus serotype 3, or DenV-3, which many in the community remain susceptible to due to lack of exposure.

Meanwhile, the number of Zika cases recorded here in 2023 rose to 20 as at Tuesday, NEA’s website showed.

As at May 30, there were a total of 15 cases,

with 14 cases detected in the month of May alone.

A cluster in the Kovan area grew from 11 cases on May 30 to 15 cases on Tuesday, accounting for most of the new cases.

Similar to the dengue virus, Zika is a virus transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which can also carry the chikungunya virus.

Those infected with the Zika virus may experience symptoms such as fever, rash and joint pain within three to 14 days of being bitten. Most Zika patients, however, do not develop symptoms.

The Ministry of Health and NEA announced that there was a cluster in Kovan on May 12, and advised residents, especially pregnant women, to monitor their health and seek medical attention if unwell with Zika symptoms.

Zika can cause the babies of pregnant women to be born with very small heads and undeveloped brains, a condition known as microcephaly.

NEA said on its website that eradication of mosquito breeding habitats and spraying of insecticide to control the adult mosquito population remain vital to prevent the spread of dengue and Zika.

The public is advised to remove stagnant water and maintain good housekeeping to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.