Singapore enters dengue peak with warmer days ahead

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) has urged the public to be vigilant against mosquito breeding, as Singapore enters its peak season of dengue transmission.

The NEA warned on Friday that dengue transmission could increase, with warmer days ahead.

It said an increase in dengue cases is typical of the period from May to October, when the weather is warmer.

The dengue virus multiplies faster in warmer temperatures due to a shorter virus incubation period in the mosquito.

In 2010, dengue cases in this six—month period made up 66 per cent of the total cases that year.

Dengue transmission has been kept under control for the first six months of the year through various efforts by the NEA, with the support of the community, town councils and other government agencies.

From January to June this year, the number of dengue cases reported in Singapore fell by 14.4 per cent, compared with the same period in 2011.

The number of dengue clusters has also decreased — from 170 last year to 120 during the same period.

The NEA said residents whose estates have had fewer cases of dengue in recent years need to be particularly vigilant, as they may have little immunity against the predominant circulating serotype (DEN—2).

— CNA/ck