Update on Chikungunya Fever Situation

19 Aug 2008

Update on Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (PPWC) Cluster

1. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been notified of one new case of chikungunya involving a62-year-old housewife who stays at Hong San Walk. She is the mother of the first reported case. She developed symptoms on 16 Aug 08 and was hospitalised on the same day. She tested positive for chikungunya on 18 Aug 08. She has no recent history of travel overseas prior to the onset of her illness and her movement history was confined to her residence and her workplace at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (PPWC). The total number of cases linked to PPWC currently stands at 4.

2. The National Environment Agency (NEA) officers have been conducting intensive mosquito control operations at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, and up to 20 NEA officers have been deployed in the area to keep mosquito breeding in check.  As an added preventive measure, NEA has also extended its operations to areas beyond PPWC. So far, 5 mosquito breedings were found and destroyed. Enforcement action has been taken and fogging was carried out within the wholesale centre and its vicinity.

Update on Kranji Way Cluster

3. MOH has been notified of one new case of chikungunya fever linked to the Kranji Way cluster. He is a 34-year-old Indian national who works and stays at Kranji Crescent. He has no recent history of travel overseas prior to his onset of illness. The total number of cases linked to Kranji Way currently stands at 33.

4. The NEA officers have been conducting intensive mosquito control operations within the vicinity of the cases’ workplace and their homes outside the cluster.  So far, up to 70 NEA officers have been deployed in the area to keep mosquito breeding in check.  As an added preventive measure, the NEA has also extended its operations to areas beyond the Kranji Way, including Kranji Loop, Kranji Rd, Kranji Link, Sungei Kadut Dr and other Sungei Kadut areas.  So far, mosquito breedings were found and destroyed in seven more factory premises, bringing the total number of factory premises with mosquito breedings to date to 59. Enforcement action has been taken and orders have been served to owners to keep their premises free of mosquito breedings. Under the law, if owners should breach this order, a $2,000 fine would be imposed for breedings found the first time. All premise owners are urged to check their premises daily to remove any stagnant water that may breed mosquitoes.

Update on Sungei Kadut Cluster

5. MOH has been notified oftwonew cases of chikungunya fever linked to the Sungei Kadut cluster. The first case is a 36-year-old Chinese national who works and stays at Sungei Kadut St 1. The second case is a 48-year-old local who works at Sungei Kadut St 6. He developed symptoms on 14 Aug 08 and was admitted to hospital the next day. All his family members are well. The total number of cases linked to Sungei Kadut currently stands at 5.

Chikungunya Cases

6. To date, atotalof 128 cases of chikungunya fever were notified to MOH in 2008. Of these cases, 61 were imported cases with history of travel to Johor (48 cases), Malacca & other states of Malaysia (5 cases), Indonesia (4 cases), Sri Lanka (2 cases), India (2 cases). There have been 15 incidents from which 67 local cases[1] have arisen.

7. NEA has been carrying out vector control operations in and around the cases’ residential premises, including their work places and places that they normally frequent, for both individual and cluster cases.

Ministry’s Advice to the Public

8. The Ministry advises persons who develop symptoms of chikungunya which include fever, joint pain and rashes to consult their doctors immediately.

9. 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 the breeding of mosquitoes. Persons infected with chikungunya fever should be isolated from further mosquitoes bites so as to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus.

10. Chikungunya outbreaks continue to be reported in our region such as Malaysia (Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Perak), Indonesia and India. Therefore, the risk of imported cases leading to local transmission remains high.

11. Persons travelling to these places are thus advised to take precautionary measures to protect themselves from mosquitoes and seek prompt medical treatment upon their return if they become unwell and develop fever.

Ministry of Health

National Environment Agency

19 August 2008

[1]33 from Kranji Way, 13 from the Little India, 5 from Sungei Kadut, 4 from PPWC,  2 from the Teachers Housing Estate cluster, 1 from Farrer Road, 1 from Herford Road, 1 from Jalan Berjaya, 1 from Hougang St 22,  1 from Jalan Jelita, 1 from Miltonia Close, 1 from Queen St. 1 from Segar Rd, 1 from Woodland St 81 and 1 from Yishun Ave 6.