SINGAPORE - A 79-year-old man has become the third dengue fatality in Singapore this year.
He died yesterday (Nov 28). The first dengue death this year was a 53-year-old female Chinese national who died in February. In September, a 60-year-old female Indian national was the second casualty.
In 2014, five people died of the mosquito-borne disease.
Here are some dengue-related stories from The Straits Times archives.
Scientists discover a type of white blood cell that can destroy dengue cells
This article was first published on Apr 23, 2015
Scientists from Singapore have found that a type of white blood cell located in the skin plays a vital role in destroying dengue cells.
The cells called T lymphocytes (T cells) can prevent the dengue-infected cells from multiplying in the body. These white blood cells are mostly found in the skin.
Potent dengue antibody discovered
This article was first published on Feb 21, 2015
Researchers in Singapore have identified a super-potent antibody that they say can kill one of the four dengue virus serotypes.
Just a very small amount - 0.000000005g of the antibody, called 5J7 - is needed to kill the serotype 3 virus. That means its use in drugs is likely to be cheaper.
20 minutes to detect dengue with saliva?
This article was first published on Jan 30, 2015
Finding out whether you have been infected with dengue could soon be as easy as spitting into a rapid test kit.
Scientists from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have developed a kit which could in theory detect if people have diseases such as HIV and dengue, using just a sample of their saliva.
Dengue strain's return a worry
This article was first published on Sept 14, 2014
Another dengue strain is resurfacing in Singapore, raising the spectre of a new wave of infections here. This warning by the National Environment Agency (NEA) yesterday came alongside the news that a third person has died of dengue this year.
An 81-year-old woman was first diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's emergency department last Saturday, and died in hospital yesterday.
New dengue vaccine 'not effective enough for Singapore'
This article was first published on Aug 5, 2014
A new dengue vaccine to be marketed by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi next year is "not good enough" for Singapore, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament yesterday.
He was responding to queries from Members of Parliament on when the vaccine and other new drugs would hit the shelves here.
Student creates website to highlight dengue outbreaks
This article was first published on Aug 4, 2014
A postgraduate student has gone online to do his bit in the fight against dengue.
Mr Xie Rufeng, a 32-year-old who is doing a master's degree in computer science at the National University of Singapore, has set up a website that tracks outbreaks of the disease here.
Better equipped to handle dengue
This article was first published on July 17, 2014
After two days of high fever, a 35-year-old regional manager of a business firm went to see his family doctor.
He was supposed to attend an important overseas meeting and wanted to know if he was fit to travel.
Singapore may release sterile mozzies to combat dengue
This article was first published on Oct 18, 2014
If the males shoot blanks, female mosquitoes will not be able to create new dengue-spreaders.
That is why Singapore could be releasing millions of sterile male mosquitoes here, if field studies are successful, say experts who have backed the plan.
Singapore may be among first in world to get dengue vaccine
This article was first published on June 16, 2014
The world's first dengue vaccine could be ready by the end of next year, and Singapore may be one of the first countries to get it.
The need could not be greater. Dengue is the fastest spreading vector-borne viral disease, says the World Health Organisation, and is endemic in over 100 countries. Four in 10 people are at risk of getting infected.
Singapore scientists crack 'sneak tactics' of dengue virus
This article was first published on Jan 14, 2014
Scientists in Singapore have discovered how the dengue virus manages to slip past the body's immune safeguards.
A team of researchers, led by Duke-NUS associate professor Ooi Eng Eong, believes its findings will help to develop a "more targeted" vaccine against the mosquito-borne virus.
To beat dengue, know thy enemy
IN 2005, Singapore reported 14,000 dengue cases, the highest number in its history.
This year, however, has been worse. By October, the number of reported cases had passed 18,000, with six deaths.
Not surprisingly, a common question is being asked: "Are we making good progress in the management of dengue?"
Dengue danger zones: 5 design features prone to breeding mosquitoes
This article was first published on July 28, 2014
Rubbish bins, flat roofs and spotlights may seem like regular, harmless fixtures in our working and living spaces, but they can silently harbour killers.
These are some areas that, because of their design, can turn into breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito which transmits dengue fever.
