Singapore faces a significant increase in dengue infections with nearly 3,000 cases this year; the public is urged to step up prevention efforts.
SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) has called for immediate public action to curb mosquito breeding, as dengue cases rise sharply, with close to 3,000 cases reported since the start of 2022. Currently, there are 112 active dengue clusters in Singapore, the two largest being Woodlands Drive 17, which has seen 185 cases, and the vicinity of Holland Grove, with 160 cases. These clusters were first identified in February, and although the number of cases has been decreasing since March, the threat remains significant.
With Singapore’s traditional peak dengue season fast approaching from June to October, the NEA has launched the National Dengue Prevention Campaign in a bid to combat the increasing cases. As part of the campaign, NEA introduced a new purple dengue alert banner, which will be displayed in areas that have a persistently high population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
“These are high-risk dengue locations because larger mosquito populations can significantly accelerate the transmission of dengue,” NEA explained. Areas with higher mosquito populations are reported to be three to 10 times more likely to develop into large dengue clusters compared to locations with fewer mosquitoes.
During a media briefing, Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Desmond Tan, emphasized that dengue remains a “clear and serious” public health threat, even as Singapore grapples with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “In recent months, we’ve seen a sharp rise in dengue cases, almost 3,000 from the start of the year, and just last week alone, we saw over 400 cases. That’s a worrying trend,” he stated.
In the week ending March 26, Singapore recorded 444 dengue cases—the highest weekly figure at this time of year in the past four years. Tan stressed that launching the dengue prevention campaign ahead of the usual peak season is essential to curbing the rising number of cases.
As part of the prevention efforts, the NEA aims to engage the community by highlighting high-risk dengue areas and the health consequences of the disease. Ground outreach efforts, supported by local grassroots leaders and volunteers, will include house visits to advise residents in dengue cluster areas on mosquito breeding habitats and provide dengue prevention tips. The outreach campaign will last for at least three months to ensure sustained public awareness and engagement.
The NEA’s efforts are a response to the early spike in dengue cases and aim to reduce the risks posed by the upcoming peak season by encouraging public involvement in the fight against mosquito breeding.
