Death of a Foreign Patient with Dengue

26 June 2013

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DEATH OF A FOREIGN PATIENT WITH DENGUE

1. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have been notified of the death of a foreign patient who was treated for dengue in Singapore. The patient was a 68-year-old Indonesian male who had most likely contracted dengue while travelling in Indonesia from 10 – 21 June 2013. MOH and NEA wish to express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased patient.

2. The patient developed a fever on 20 June and went to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) emergency department (ED) on 23 June 2013 after having a three-day history of fever, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea for two days. He was diagnosed to have dengue with acute renal failure with severe liver inflammation and was admitted for treatment and close monitoring. His condition started deteriorating in the Intensive Care unit on 24 June 2013 despite blood transfusions and other supportive treatment. He passed away on 25 June 2013.

3. As of 26 June 2013, there have been three deaths due to locally-acquired dengue infection.

4. Dengue is endemic in Singapore and in the region. Four to seven percent of dengue cases over the past five years acquired the infection outside Singapore. The vast majority of dengue cases in Singapore are locally acquired through the bite of the Aedes mosquito. The key to effectively control dengue is to eliminate mosquito breeding spots. MOH and NEA strongly encourage all Singaporeans to take appropriate precautions to prevent mosquito breeding by doing the Mozzie Wipeout weekly. More details on this can be found at www.dengue.gov.sg.

5. Everyone needs to play their part and be socially responsible to stop the chain of transmission in the community. Persons who suspect they may have dengue should consult their doctors as early as possible and use mosquito repellents in order to reduce the risk of spreading the infection further.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

26 JUNE 2013

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For media queries, please contact:

Ms Faye Shen
Manager, Media Relations
Ministry of Health
Email: faye_shen@moh.gov.sg
DID: 6325 9008/ Mobile: 9650 4229

Ms Amalina Zulkefli
Senior Executive, Corporate Communications
National Environment Agency
Email: Nur_Amalina@nea.gov.sg
DID: 6731 9867 / Mobile: 9797 6315