Update On Chikungunya Fever Cases Detected In Teachers Housing Estate

09 Jun 2008

1. The Ministry of Health (MOH), together with National Environment Agency (NEA)’s Environmental Health Institute, has collected a total of 311 blood samples between 5 - 7 June from those living and working in the Teachers Housing Estate. The screening results show that none tested positive for chikungunya virus. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

2. As of 8 June 08, a total of 23 cases of chikungunya fever were notified to MOH in 2008. 15 (including the two latest cases) of these are local cases, of which 13 were from the Little India cluster.

3. NEA officers are conducting intensive source reduction operations within the vicinity of the cases' residence. More than 150 premises have been inspected and a total of 13 mosquito breedings have been detected in the area. Ultra-low volume and aerosol spraying of insecticide have been carried out in 65 premises around the cases' residence so far. Intensive operations to suppress the mosquito population in the area will continue. Residents and premises owners in the Teachers Housing Estate are advised to check their premises daily to remove any stagnant water that may breed mosquitoes.

4. Persons who have been in the Teachers Housing Estate area recently and have developed a fever are advised to consult their doctors. Chikungunya fever, like dengue fever, is a mosquito-borne disease and the best way to prevent chikungunya fever is to take precautionary measures to prevent mosquito breeding. 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

9 JUNE 2008