Chikungunya Fever Cases Detected at Kranji Way

02 Aug 2008

1.                 The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been notified of three cases of chikungunya fever involving two foreign workers (37-year-old Bangladeshi and 41-year-old Indian) and a 39-year old local delivery driver. The two foreign workers are working and residing at a site in Kranji Way while the local delivery driver had delivered goods to the same site in Kranji Way. The two foreign workers are currently in hospital for isolation and treatment. The Singaporean driver is currently well and has gone back to work.

2.                 Our preliminary investigations revealed that the three cases are probably local cases with the likely source of infection being in Kranji Way as they have not travelled out of Singapore recently. MOH is currently carrying out active case detection at and around the site in Kranji Way and blood samples are being sent to the Environmental Health Institute (NEA) for testing. The Ministry advises persons who have travelled to Kranji Way recently and who have or who develop fever and joint pains to consult their doctors.

3.                  NEA officers are also conducting intensive mosquito control operations within the vicinity.  Mosquito breedings were found in 10 factory premises in the neighbourhood including the workplace and quarters of the patients. All mosquito breedings were destroyed, and insecticide fogging is being carried out. The intensive operations will continue until no more new cases are notified.