Dengue cases last week stayed below 100 for 3rd straight week, dengue clusters down to 10

The number of new dengue cases remained below 100 for the third straight week last week, with 86 cases of the mosquito-borne virus reported. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - The number of new dengue cases remained below 100 for the third straight week last week, with 86 cases of the mosquito-borne virus reported.

This was one more than in the previous week, according to the latest figures from the National Environment Agency's (NEA) dengue website. Dengue cases have remained below 100 since the week starting Oct 23.

As of Monday (Nov 14), a total of 12,625 dengue cases have been reported since the start of the year - more than the 11,286 cases in the whole of 2015.

While NEA initially warned in February that cases this year could hit a historic high of over 30,000 cases, this now appears unlikely as the weekly figure has fallen markedly over the last two months.

Instead, it has urged the public to maintain 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.

Dengue clusters across the island have been on the decline. As of Monday, 10 clusters remain - down from 12 the previous week - with one classified as high risk.

The cluster at Yishun Avenue 4 and Yishun Street 61 remains the highest risk with a total of 83 cases, including one in the past fortnight.

There have been nine dengue deaths this year - compared to four in 2015. The latest victim was an 81-year-old man from Mandai Estate who died on Nov 7. Mandai Estate is not an active dengue cluster.

Last month, NEA 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 this month.

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