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Posted: 20 January 2012
SINGAPORE: Singapore is enjoying a brief respite from the dengue virus, with the number of cases in 2011 much lower than what was expected for a peak or near-peak year of the six- to seven-year dengue cycle traditionally seen.
There were about 5,330 dengue cases in 2011, slightly lower than the 5,363 cases in 2010.
But it is significantly lower compared with the last outbreak in 2005, when the number of cases hit about 14,000, as well as in 2007 when there were about 8,000 cases. In 2006, there were about 3,000 cases.
The local dengue incident rate - which is the number of people who came down with the disease per 100,000 population - was less than 100, compared with 300 during the 2005 outbreak.
The National Environment Agency (NEA), which gave this update on Friday, said a serious dengue outbreak in 2011 was averted due to the contributions of the various sectors in the community.
These include households, town councils, government agencies and construction sites.
NEA said it will continue to work with members of the Inter Agency Dengue Taskforce to remove as many potential public breeding spots as possible and conduct educational visits in homes, ahead of the coming warmer months.
It has also reminded residents not to let their guard down this festive period, despite the low dengue transmission.
It said its educational visits to homes since November 2011 show that more can be done to keep homes free of mosquito breeding.
A majority of about 1,300 breedings detected by officers during these visits were found in domestic containers, flower pot plates and ornamental containers.
With the festive period around the corner, many are decorating their homes with floral decorations such as lucky bamboo, cherry blossoms and pussy willows.
NEA said residents must ensure that their vases and plant bowls do not breed mosquitoes. They must change the water on alternate days.
- CNA/cc
Taken from ChannelNewsAsia.com; source article is below:
S'pore averted dengue outbreak in 2011
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