NEA | NEA Urges All Individuals And Premises Owners To Take Urgent Action As Weekly Dengue Case Numbers Expected To Hit Another Historical Peak Exceeding That Seen In 2020 – NEA

03 Jun 2022

Weekly dengue case numbers may exceed 2,000 in June 2022, surpassing the highest weekly figure of 1,787 cases reported in 2020           
Singapore, 3 June 2022 – Singapore is currently facing a serious dengue situation, as the reported number of weekly dengue cases continues to rise sharply. This number is expected to hit another historical peak, surpassing the highest weekly figure of 1,787 cases seen in 2020, and may even exceed 2,000 in the month of June, which is just the beginning of the traditional peak dengue season. More than 12,000 cases have been reported this year to date. NEA urges all individuals and premises owners to take urgent action to break disease transmission, by removing stagnant water and potential mosquito breeding habitats.
2          Dengue is endemic in Singapore and our population immunity is low and will continue to be so, largely because of comprehensive dengue prevention and control measures over the years. Some factors contributing to the surge in dengue cases are the: high Aedes aegypti mosquito vector population, circulation of the previously uncommon Dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3), and recent warm, rainy and humid weather.
Inspections and vector control efforts

3          From January to May 2022, NEA conducted about 305,000 inspections islandwide, including about 2,300 checks at construction sites, and uncovered about 9,000 mosquito breeding habitats. [1] During the same period, NEA also issued more than 4,420 legal notices under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act (CVPA) to homeowners and occupiers, requiring them to allow NEA officers to enter their premises for urgent inspections and vector control works, on specified dates and times. To-date, residents have been cooperative in allowing our officers to inspect their premises.[2] 59 Stop Work Orders (SWOs) have been issued to constructions sites, and nine contractors will be charged in court for repeat mosquito breeding, this year. Additionally, six contractors have been issued with repeated SWOs at the same worksite, due to poor upkeep of the sites (refer to ANNEX A for construction sites issued with repeated Stop Work Orders this year, and to the NEA website https://www.nea.gov.sg/dengue-zika/dengue/stop-work-orders for a list of sites issued with SWOs).  
4          NEA’s recent inspections continued to detect egregious cases of premises with multiple mosquito breeding habitats, and habitats with profuse mosquito breeding.
               i.         Residential premises and common area in condominium compound in a dengue cluster at Chwee Chian Road
During NEA’s inspection in April 2022, a residential premises was detected with two instances of profuse mosquito breeding. The breeding habitats were: hardened soil in a flower pot with about 100 mosquito larvae, and a balcony scupper drain with about 50 mosquito larvae. The common area of a condominium compound was also detected to have profuse breeding. Two scupper drains at different locations were detected with about 200 and 100 larvae each.
              ii.         Residential premises located within a dengue cluster at Angora Close
NEA inspected the premises in April 2022, and three instances of mosquito breeding were detected in flower pot plates, with about 20 mosquito larvae each. In May 2022, profuse breeding with about 50 larvae each were detected in a window grill frame and dish rack tray, at two other residential premises.
            iii.         Residential premises and common area of condominium compound located within a dengue cluster at Mount Sinai Drive
During NEA’s inspections in March and April 2022, eight residential premises were detected to have multiple mosquito breeding, and one premises was detected with repeat breeding during re-inspection. The breeding habitats were: a tree hole, an earthen pot, a porcelain bowl, containers, vases, flower pots, flower pot plates,
a watering can, pails and hardened soil. More than 400 larvae were detected in these breeding habitats. The common area of a condominium compound was also detected to have multiple breeding habitats. Breeding was detected in a metal tray, trolley and ground depression, with about 20, 30 and 50 larvae each. The common area of another condominium compound was detected to have multiple breeding habitats. Breeding was detected in a closed perimeter drain, floor trap, gully traps and discarded receptacles, with more than 200 larvae found in these habitats.
            iv.         Community garden in a dengue cluster at Bedok South Avenue 1
During NEA’s inspections in May 2022, multiple mosquito breeding habitats were detected in the community garden. The breeding habitats included: an unused hydroponics system with more than a few hundred mosquito larvae, flower pot with about 50 larvae, and bamboo pole with about 30 larvae.
              v.         Construction sites within a dengue cluster at Jalan Batai
A construction site was detected with repeat mosquito breeding during NEA’s inspections in April and May 2022. A total of four breeding were detected, including more than 100 larvae on top of a container, about 100 larvae in gully trap, about 30 larvae in a ground puddle, and about 20 larvae in a water treatment tank. Another construction site was detected with 6 mosquito breeding during an inspection by NEA in May 2022. The breeding habitats included: a lift pit with about 100 larvae, canvas sheet with about 100 larvae, pail with about 50 larvae, and three ground puddles with close to 100 larvae.
            vi.         Construction site within dengue cluster at Woodlands Avenue 9
Nine mosquito breeding with more than a few hundred mosquito larvae were detected in sanitary facilities (toilet bowl/ cistern), during an inspection in April 2022.
5          As of 2 June 2022, there are 405 active dengue clusters reported, an increase from 196 clusters at end-April (refer to ANNEX B for information on the top five largest dengue clusters). At dengue cluster areas, about 60 per cent of Aedes mosquito breeding detected are in homes, 24 per cent in public areas, and 5 per cent at construction sites. Some dengue clusters also have a faster rate of disease transmission, such as the 199-case cluster at Mount Sinai Drive, 274-case cluster at Angora Close, 472-case cluster at Cheng Soon Crescent, 98-case cluster at Verde Avenue, and 86-case cluster at Jalan Batai, where there has been an average of three to six cases reported per day in the past two weeks.
6          NEA works closely with local stakeholders, such as Town Councils, to conduct intensive vector control operations at dengue cluster areas, and to take preventive measures islandwide. With the cooperation of partner agencies and the community, we have closed about 66 per cent, or 805 of 1,210, of the dengue clusters notified since the start of this year. Residents staying at dengue cluster areas are strongly urged to cooperate with NEA officers and facilitate their checks. Quick detection and removal of mosquito breeding habitats are crucial in reducing the mosquito vector population, and thus the risk of dengue transmission.
Concerted and collective community efforts needed
7          Since the start of this year, NEA has been working closely with partner agencies and Grassroots organisations in the areas of vector control, stakeholder engagement, and community mobilisation. For example, the National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2022 was brought forward ahead of the traditional mid-year peak dengue season, and a new purple-coloured banner was introduced to raise awareness at areas with persistently high Aedes aegypti mosquito population.
8          It is critical that all residents and stakeholders take immediate action to suppress the Aedes mosquito population and break disease transmission, by regularly practising the following Mozzie Wipeout ‘B-L-O-C-K’ steps:
·       Break up hardened soil
·       Lift and empty flowerpot plates
·       Overturn pails and wipe their rims
·       Change water in vases
·       Keep roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide inside
9         Those staying in dengue cluster areas should take additional steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Preventing bites from an infected mosquito will mean fewer infected people subsequently, which in turn reduces the pool of virus for mosquitoes to transmit amongst the community. The protective steps are ‘Spray, Apply, Wear’ or ‘S-A-W’ in short:
·       Spray insecticide in dark corners around the house
·       Apply insect repellent regularly
·       Wear long-sleeve tops and long pants
[1] Inspection figures provisional as of 1 June 2022.
[2] Forced entry is usually conducted in areas where there are dengue clusters, signs of potential mosquito breeding, or high mosquito populations, to search for and destroy any mosquito breeding habitats. Premises owners who ignore our notice for inspection may be prosecuted in court.

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ANNEX A
Construction Sites Issued with Repeat Stop Work Orders (SWOs) in 2022
(as of 2 June 2022)
Name of Company
Project Location
SWO Status
Date of Issuance
Date of Lifting
Lian Beng Construction (1988) Pte Ltd
Lot 06521X MK 17 at Potong Pasir Avenue 1
Lifted
19/1/2022
9/2/2022
Lian Beng Construction (1988) Pte Ltd
Lot 06521X MK 17 at Potong Pasir Avenue 1
Lifted
16/3/2022
7/4/2022
Quek Hock Seng Construction Pte Ltd
Lots 04984P & 09857M MK26 at 5 Marine Parade Central
Lifted
4/3/2022
9/3/2022
Quek Hock Seng Construction Pte Ltd
Lots 04984P & 09857M MK26 at 5 Marine Parade Central
Lifted
8/4/2022
14/4/2022
China Construction Realty Co. Pte Ltd
Lot 05095A MK10 at De Souza Avenue
Lifted
11/3/2022
29/3/2022
China Construction Realty Co. Pte Ltd
Lot 05095A MK10 at De Souza Avenue
Active
27/5/2022
–
Woh Hup (Private) Limited
Lot 01637L TS 21 at Jiak Kim Street
Lifted
23/3/2022
28/3/2022
Woh Hup (Private) Limited
Lot 01637L TS 21 at Jiak Kim Street
Lifted
21/4/2022
27/4/2022
L.S. Construction Pte Ltd
Lot 10733V MK18 at Serangoon North Avenue 1
Lifted
15/3/2022
18/3/2022
L.S. Construction Pte Ltd
Lot 10733V MK18 at Serangoon North Avenue 1
Lifted
6/4/2022
25/4/2022
China Construction (South Pacific) Development Company Pte Ltd
Lot 03103M MK21 at Sengkang Central
Lifted
23/4/2022
29/4/2022
China Construction (South Pacific) Development Company Pte Ltd
Lot 03103M MK21 at Sengkang Central
Lifted
11/5/2022
30/5/2022
 
ANNEX B

Inspection Findings at Top Five Largest Dengue Clusters

Information as of 31 May 2022
S/N
Cluster locality
– No. of cases
– Date of notification
– Proportion of mosquito breeding in homes
Premises detected with repeat mosquito breeding and/ or multiple mosquito breeding [3]
1
Cheng Soon Cres, Gdn, Ln / Eng Kong Cres / Eng Kong Cres (Eng Kong Green) / Eng Kong Dr, Gdns, Ln, Ter / Kismis Ave, Green / Lor Kismis / Toh Tuck Rd / Toh Tuck Rd (High Oak Condo, Nottinghill Suites, The Creek @ Bukit) / Toh Tuck Ter / Toh Yi Dr / Toh Yi Dr (Blk 1-19, 21) / Toh Yi Rd / Upp Toh Tuck Ter
– 472
– 7 Mar 2022
– 78%
 
3 premises detected with multiple breeding
2
Woodlands Ave 9 / Woodlands Cres (Blk 774-777, 779, 780, 780A-780F, 782A-782E) / Woodlands Dr 60 (Blk 769, 771-773, 778) / Woodlands Rise (Blk 783A-783D, 784A-784C, 785A-785E)
– 364
– 21 Mar 2022
– 47%
–
3
Angora Cl / Alexandra Rd / Alexandra Rd (The Anchorage, Alexis) / Barbary Walk / Merino Cres / Mei Ling St (Blk 143, 146, 148-150, 153-158, 160-162) / Queensway (Blk 168A) / Shepherds Dr / Stirling Rd / Stirling Rd / Stirling Rd (Blk 163-165, 167-171, 181, 182, 184, Queens)
– 274
– 24 Mar 2022
– 62%
1 premises detected with multiple breeding
4
Hougang Ave 5 (Blk 320-324, 333, 334, 360, 361, 363) / Hougang Ave 7 / Hougang Ave 7 (Blk 325, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341) / Hougang Ave 7 (Evergreen Pk) / Upp S’goon Rd (Blk 364A,365A-D) / Upp S’goon View (Kingsford Waterbay, Rio Vista)
– 243
– 14 Mar 2022
– 60%
 
–
5
Mt Sinai Dr (Montview, Ridgewood Condo) / Mt Sinai Rise (Beaverton Ct, Ridgewood Condo) / Pine Gr (Astor Green, Cavendish Pk, Pine Grove) / Ridgewood Cl (The Trizon)
– 199
– 24 Mar 2022
– 78%
8 premises detected with multiple breeding
1 premises detected with repeat breeding
 
 
[3] Repeat breeding refers to mosquito breeding detected during re-inspection. Multiple breeding refers to more than 1 mosquito breeding habitat detected during a single inspection.
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