AFTER 117 cases, 15 rounds of door-to-door checks, and four extensive search-and-destroy missions, the stubborn Bukit Batok dengue cluster has finally been contained after 84 days since the outbreak.

For the last two weeks, there have not been any new reported cases in the area, indicating that the situation is under control, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Bukit Batok has been the worst-hit dengue area, with the most cases in a single cluster.

A total of 34 blocks were affected, and while there were no deaths, one of the 117 cases was of the more serious form of dengue - dengue haemorrhagic fever - which can be fatal.

Across the island, 7,315 people have fallen victim to dengue so far this year, and the disease has claimed eight lives.

There are now 32 areas where the disease is still spreading, and in three of them - Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4, Pipit Road /Paya Lebar Way/Circuit Road and Pasir Panjang Road/Neo Pee Teck Lane/Clementi Road - at least 10 cases have been reported.

The weekly numbers have continued to fall though - down to 176 cases last week.

For the full story, read Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.