Dengue cases fall in first week of February, but number still much higher than usual: NEA

A yellow dengue alert poster at a bus stop on Clementi Road. ST PHOTO: MALCOLM MACLEOD

SINGAPORE - The first week of February saw a drop in dengue cases reported, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) has warned that the number is still much higher than usual for this period of the year.

There were 530 cases in the week from Jan 31 to Feb 6 - 95 cases fewer than in the previous week - the latest figures on NEA's dengue website showed.

Another 144 cases were reported between Feb 7 and 3.30pm on Feb 10. The total number of cases in the first five weeks of 2016 stood at 2,960.

On Wednesday (Feb 10), a 67-year-old Singaporean man who lived in Toa Payoh became the second person to die of the virus this year.

His home at Toa Payoh Lorong 4 is not an active dengue cluster, NEA and the Ministry of Health said in a joint press release, but operations to kill adult mosquitoes and destroy potential breeding sites are ongoing.

Reiterating that source eradication of mosquito breeding habitats remains key to preventing the breeding of the Aedes mosquito, NEA urged the public to check their premises daily.

The top breeding spots in homes are domestic containers and flower pot plates and trays, NEA added.

Members of the public are also encouraged to join in the collective effort to help stop the dengue transmission cycle by doing the five-step Mozzie Wipeout.

Latest updates on the dengue situation can be found at the Stop Dengue Now Facebook page, www.dengue.gov.sg or the myENV app.

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