Singapore: Dengue fever outbreak continues /update 1

Event

Health officials in Singapore have reported 455 cases of dengue fever so far in 2019 as of mid-January, representing a three-fold increase over the number of cases reported over the same period in 2018. Authorities are continuing to implement public health measures to hinder the further spread of the disease, including fumigation campaigns aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.

Context

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. In a small number of cases, the potentially deadly dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) may develop, resulting in internal bleeding, enlargement of the liver, and high fever.

Advice

Individuals present in Singapore are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).