Residents urged to remain vigilant as dengue peak season approaches

Despite the decrease in reported dengue cases so far this year, residents are urged to remain vigilant in wake of the dengue peak season that is approaching, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a statement on Sunday, April 19.

Between Jan and Mar this year, a total of 2,159 dengue cases were reported, a 39 per cent decrease from last year's figure of 3,557 during the same period. However, the NEA did detect an increase of about 80 per cent in the number of Aedes mosquito breeding habitats found in homes between the months of Feb and Mar this year.

Speaking at the launch of the inaugural 'Do the Mozzie Wipeout' Campaign 2015 Held at the Bukit Batok Neighbourhood Centre on Sunday, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Ms Grace Fu called on residents to "work as a community" in a bid to prevent dengue cases from rising.

The launch event sees the start of NEA's campaign to raise awareness on dengue prevention.

To combat dengue, NEA appointed a Dengue Expert Advisory Panel back in June 2014 to provide independent advice on methods of dengue prevention and control. From their first meeting with NEA in Oct last year, the panel supported NEA's efforts to explore the use of Wolbachia- carrying male Aedia Egypti mosquitoes to help contain the Aedes mosquito population in Singapore.

The NEA had also called for a tender for consultants to review any environmental and social impact that may occur from the use of the Wolbachia technology. The tender closed on April 16 this year and will take up to eight months to be completed.

Various community events at North-West, South-East, North-East and Central districts were also held today to educate the public as well as other stakeholders on dengue prevention. NEA emphasised the important of community-led efforts in helping to reduce the mosquito population.

More information on the current dengue situation is available on the Stop Dengue Now Facebook page at www.dengue.gov.sg or on the myENV app.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg