By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Singapore health officials reported 870 dengue fever cases last week, a weekly number not seen since the peak years in 2013 and 2014.

Aedes aegypti/CDC

Through June 9, Singapore reported 10,234 total dengue cases. This is the highest number of cases in the first 5 months of the year since 2013, the largest outbreak year recorded in Singapore’s recent history.

In 2013, Singapore reported the largest dengue fever outbreak in recent history recording some 22,318 cases and eight deaths.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) reports as of Monday, there are 190 active dengue clusters reported. With the concerted efforts of the community and stakeholders, the 105-case cluster at Westwood Avenue, 78-case cluster at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and 65-case cluster at Jalan Jurong Kechil are closed. However, there are still large clusters located at Woodleigh Close, Tampines Avenue 7, Potong Pasir Avenue 1, Aljunied Road and Elizabeth Drive where intensive vector control operations are ongoing.

NEA has observed a five-fold increase in the incidence of Aedes mosquito larvae detected in homes and common corridors in residential areas during the two-month Circuit Breaker period compared to the two months prior. The highest percentage of mosquito breeding found in homes in the top five dengue cluster areas was 84 per cent.

Homeowners and occupants are strongly urged to do their part and pay close attention to any mosquito breeding or adult mosquitoes present in their homes, take the necessary steps to prevent or remove them, and protect themselves from mosquitoes bites.  These include:

Aedes aegypti mosquito merchandise

  1.  Regularly doing the Mozzie Wipeout and removing any stagnant water in homes;
    • Turn the pail
    • Tip the vase
    • Flip the flower pot plate
    • Loosen the hardened soil
    • Clear the roof gutter and drains within compounds, and place Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) insecticide inside
  2. Spraying insecticide at dark corners of the home, for example under the sofa and bed, behind the curtains and in the toilets
  3. Applying mosquito repellent to protect themselves from mosquito bites
  4. Using mosquito screens
  5. Using spatial mosquito repellent (e.g. mosquito coil) in well-ventilated areas of the home.

All residents living in dengue cluster areas are also strongly encouraged to cooperate with NEA officers, and facilitate their checks and indoor misting in their homes. Allowing NEA to access all homes in dengue clusters as quickly as possible helps keep your family members, neighbors and the community safe from being infected with the Dengue virus.