SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) issued a warning about the possibility of a fresh dengue outbreak in 2023 as the number of weekly dengue cases remained high throughout the new year.
Six times as many cases of dengue were reported in 2022—more than 32,000—as there were in all of 2021.
According to NEA’s media release on Thursday, there were 279 dengue cases last week, about twice as many as there were during the same time period in 2016. (Jan 19).
The report went on to say that “the high number of dengue cases at the beginning of the year has increased the potential of an early surge in cases in the coming months, and could result in another dengue epidemic in Singapore this year.”
As of Wednesday, there are 82 dengue clusters that are active.
Thirteen of them, including Hougang Avenue 1, Jurong West Avenue 5, and Toa Payoh Lorong 4, are major clusters with ten or more cases.
According to NEA, the most common strain of dengue virus still circulating in Singapore is serotype 3 (DENV-3). In 11 of the 13 significant dengue clusters, it was found.
According to NEA, “DENV-3 immunity in our population is inadequate, making more persons susceptible to infection with this serotype.”
There is a significant chance that Singapore’s DENV-3 outbreak from the previous year would continue as a result of the massive number of dengue infections.
According to the agency, Singapore’s Aedes aegypti mosquito population was roughly 24% greater in December of last year than it was in the same month in 2021.
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The NEA also issued a warning for the Chinese New Year season, when homes and other properties are decorated with more attractive plants, calling for “immediate concerted action” to remove potential mosquito breeding grounds.
The organization claimed to have increased inspections at all plant nurseries.
Plant keepers are asked to take precautions to make sure that water doesn’t collect on flower pot plates or on top of any hardened soil.
“Homeowners are also reminded to properly dispose of any waste, including large furniture or household goods,” the NEA stated. This will prevent the abandoned objects from unintentionally becoming mosquito breeding grounds.
The organization reported that domestic containers, flower pot plates or trays, and decorative containers like vases were the most typical Aedes mosquito breeding places discovered in houses last year.
People were reminded of the “BLOCK” preventative measures, which include the following:
liquefy the arid soil
Elevate and remove the flowerpot plates.
Turn crates over and clean the rims.
Freshen up the vases’ water
Roof gutters should always be kept free. pesticide BTI
