Update on Chikungunya Fever Cases(3)

26 Jan 2008

As at 25 January 2008, investigations have found a total of 11 probable cases of chikungunya fever. They have been assessed at the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and 9 patients were admitted for isolation and management. All but two have since been discharged. The latest probable case identified is a Singaporean with no recent travel history and who spent some time on a daily basis in the Little India area.  

We have linked the first 10 probable cases to the section of Clive Street where the cluster of cases was earlier identified. All the 10 cases either lived, worked or spent a significant time in the affected section of Clive Street.

Since 14 January 2008, the Ministry of Health (MOH), together with National Environment Agency (NEA)’s Environmental Health Institute, has screened 1795 people. Screening was initially confined to the 150m radius from the affected section of Clive Street. However, on 23 January 2008, as a precautionary measure, the screening area was extended. The latest probable case had spent time within this extended screening area.

NEA has been carrying out intensive search and destroy operations, ULV (ultra-low volume) fogging and residual spraying of premises in the Clive Street area since last Thursday.  It has not let up on such efforts, and as of today, there are still about 20 NEA officers and 15 (private) pest control operators (PCOs) working in the area. NEA has conducted more than 3,200 inspection so far.  As an added preventive measure, NEA had extended its operations to areas beyond the Clive Street area, which are bounded by Rochor Road, Race Course Road, Lavender Road and Jalan Besar, involving an additional 35 officers and 25 PCOs. A total of 63 breedings have been detected and destroyed.  NEA is continuing with the operations until the threat of chikungunya is removed from the area.

Residents and premise owners are reminded to check their premises daily to remove any stagnant water that may breed mosquitoes. In addition, persons who have been in the Clive Street area recently and have developed a fever are advised to consult their doctors. Persons infected with chikungunya fever should be isolated from further mosquitoes bites (by staying indoors and sleeping under a mosquito net during the first few days of illness) to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY