A new case of suspected local malaria transmission in Jurong Island

08 Aug 2009

1. There is one new case of suspected locally transmitted vivax malaria in the malaria cluster at Jurong Island. The latest case involves a 25-year-old foreign construction worker who stays and works at Jurong Island.  The man has no travel history and no history of malaria prior to entry to Singapore. His illness onset date was on 26 July 09 and MOH was notified on 3 August 09.  This brings the total number of cases in the Jurong cluster to 9, comprising all foreign workers aged between 24 to 46.

2. At Jurong island, the vector control operations include the larviciding of potential mosquito breeding habitats, chemical fogging and residual spraying of the dormitories at the site of the outbreak.  The recent three consecutive nights of fogging was conducted from 04 to 06 Aug 09.  Residual spraying of dormitories was conducted on 04 Aug 09.  No anopheles breeding was detected since 12 Jun 09, and no adult mosquitoes have been caught since 11 Jun 09 from NEA's weekly adult mosquito trapping operations.  The NEA will continue with intensive surveillance and adult mosquito trapping to monitor the population of the Anopheles mosquito in the areas.

3. NEA's search and destroy operations in the other two areas of transmission are also on-going.

   Updates on the other two local clusters

4. Since 1 July , there have been no new cases in the Sungei Kadut/Mandai Estate cluster and the total number of cases remains at 16. There are also no new cases for the Sembawang cluster since 12 Jul 09 and the total number remains at 4.

5. MOH and NEA are monitoring the situation closely and will update the public on any new developments.

   MOH's advice to the public

6. Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease. The symptoms include fever, chills, muscle pains, joint pains and headache. Anyone who experiences these symptoms and had visited the affected area in the past 4 weeks should seek immediate medical attention.  

7. The best way to prevent malaria is to avoid frequenting places where the mosquito vector is known to be active. This mosquito vector bites mostly at dusk and at night. If you cannot avoid going to these places, then wear clothes that completely cover the arms, legs and put on insect repellent.

8. As a precautionary measure, residents living in the vicinity are advised to use mosquito coils and repellents, and sleep under mosquito netting.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY