SINGAPORE, May 15 (The Straits Times/ANN): The variety of dengue cases in Singapore has crossed the 8,000 mark in the first 5 months of 2022, exceeding the 5,258 cases reported in the complete of 2021.
This is worrying as the conventional peak dengue season between June and October has but to reach, stated Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Desmond Tan throughout a media web site go to to Woodsvale Condominium on Saturday (May 14).
The non-public property in Woodlands Drive 72 is a part of a cluster that has seen 96 cases since the first case was detected in early March this 12 months.
Tan, who can also be Minister of State for Home Affairs, stated: “We are seeing a steep increase in the number of cases by the week… it’s an emergency phase now that we need to deal with to prevent further increase in the incidence of dengue cases.”
A excessive of 1,055 dengue cases was reported this week as at May 13, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reported on Saturday.
There had been additionally 280 energetic dengue clusters reported, up from 196 clusters at end-April.
From January to April this 12 months, NEA performed about 243,000 inspections islandwide, together with about 1,900 checks at building websites.
It uncovered about 7,100 mosquito breeding habitats however famous that at dengue cluster areas, about 60 per cent of Aedes breeding detected are from houses.
During his go to to Woodsvale Condominium, Tan famous that group companions, and grassroots leaders and organisations have been stepping up vector management operations in the space.
They have targeted primarily on elevating consciousness amongst residents and lowering breeding in residential and building areas.
These have helped scale back energetic clusters by about 70 per cent.
There are additionally digital discover boards at the non-public property and customised dengue posters at the raise lobbies reminding residents of steps to stop mosquito breeding in their houses, as effectively as elevating consciousness of the dengue scenario.
Derrick Oh, 47, the condominium supervisor of Woodsvale Condominium stated these measures had been launched partly as a result of the property has a variety of aged residents.
Resident Bob Wong, 48, stated his household has taken steps to stop stagnant water from accumulating in their house.
“I’m definitely worried for my family,” stated Wong, who’s the regional chief monetary officer for building specialist firm VSL International.
NEA stated the surge in dengue cases this 12 months is partially brought on by a excessive Aedes aegypti mosquito inhabitants, which can be as a consequence of latest heat, wet and humid climate.
A proportion of persons are additionally staying in and working from house, it added.
In its advisory, NEA stated that to interrupt illness transmission and forestall Aedes mosquito breeding, residents ought to break up hardened soil, raise and empty flowerpot plates, overturn pails and wipe their rims dry.
They also needs to change water in vases, maintain roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide inside, which is used to kill mosquito larvae.
Those staying in dengue clusters also needs to spray insecticide in darkish corners round their houses and apply insect repellent usually. – The Straits Times/ANN