Dengue cases on the rise!
-
July 1, 2005
Dengue cases on the rise again, says NEA
4,900 cases till June 19; expected to cross last year's 9,459
By Radha Basu
THE number of people who contract dengue is on the rise again, the National Environment Agency warned yesterday.
This year, infectious disease expert Leo Yee Sin told The Straits Times, victims may surpass last year's record high, putting intense pressure on an already overloaded health-care system.
Now, about 80 per cent of dengue cases here need to be warded.
'Even without a surge in dengue cases, our hospital occupancy rates are already quite high,' she said.
The incidence of dengue swells by about 25 per cent every year between June and August, when temperatures are high, as the dengue virus thrives in hot weather.
There are already indications that the situation may be worse than before, added the clinical director of the Communicable Disease Centre.
There were close to 4,900 cases till June 19 this year. In the same period last year, there were about 2,200. On top of that, the annual surge began a month earlier than last year.
There were 611 cases in May, compared to 490 in the same month last year.
June figures are also likely to be higher than last year, when there were 617 cases. In the first three weeks of last month, there were 610 cases.
At this rate, said Associate Professor Leo, the probability of surpassing last year's record of 9,459 is quite high, adding: 'I hope, of course, that I'm wrong.'
The NEA is more optimistic. The head of operations at its Environmental Health Department, Mr Dalson Chung, said this year's numbers are a hangover from last year's upsurge.
Usually, there are very few cases in January and February, he said. 'But this year, the numbers were far higher, because last year's upsurge did not stop in August but continued into the first two months of this year,' he explained. There were more than 1,000 cases reported here during each of those two months.
'There are no signs that the traditional spike we're seeing now during the warmer months will continue the rest of the year, like it did last year,' he said.
Experts are still not sure what caused last year's outbreak. One possible reason, they suggested, is that there was a change in the strain - or type - of dengue virus that infected most people last year.
In 2003, the dominant strain was Dengue 2. When the upsurge began in May last year, it was Dengue 1. There has been no change in the dominant strain since.
As of last week, the worst-hit areas in Singapore were Upper Boon Keng Road, Lorong Kembangan and the neighbouring Taman Selamat. These places had a total of 38 cases. -
4,900 cases till June 19; expected to cross last year's 9,459
gdness so high! better be careful!! -
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus which can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The incubation period of dengue fever normally ranges from between 3 to 14 days. -
What is Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever?
Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue and can be fatal if unrecognised or not treated. -
How is Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever spread?
Dengue is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are infected when they take a blood meal from a dengue-infected person. -
Can Dengue be spread from person to person?
Dengue fever cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is only spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. -
What are the common symptoms of Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever?
Dengue fever is characterized by the sudden onset of fever, (which can last up to 7 days) and is accompanied by intense headache, body aches, joint pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and the development of skin rashes. A blood test will often show low platelets.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever presents similarly to Dengue fever but is associated with more severe bleeding problems (e.g. gum bleeding, nose bleeding and bleeding into the skin and internal organs) along with evidence of plasma leakage. -
I contracted dengue when I was in sec 2. Had recurring fever and rashes on both arms for a few days, but recovered after 1 night at the hospital.
-
Is there any treatment for Dengue or Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever?
There is no specific treatment for Dengue or Dengue Haemorrhagic fever. However, supportive care with intravenous fluids and frequent blood test monitoring reduces complications of the disease. In severe cases, blood transfusions may be required. -
Can Dengue fever or Dengue Haemorrhagic fever lead to death?
Yes. Death can occur in a small minority of persons especially if the infection is not recognized early or early treatment is not sought. -
How can dengue fever be prevented?
Dengue fever can be prevented through measures to prevent mosquito breeding around the house and to protect against mosquito bites. Precautions include wearing long-sleeved clothes, using mosquito coils and electric vapour mats, and using insect repellent over the exposed parts of the body. Adoption of good daily habits such as clearing blockages from the roof gutter, clearing leaves and stagnant water from drains, removing water from potted plants daily, avoiding the use of pot plates and changing the water in vases everyday will also help to eliminate the chances of mosquito breeding. -
oh u were lucky.. i heard a fren kenna n stayed 5days in hospital...Originally posted by ^spidee^:I contracted dengue when I was in sec 2. Had recurring fever and rashes on both arms for a few days, but recovered after 1 night at the hospital.
n had difficulty breathing too... -
Yea, but it was really frustrating having on and off fever, and my Mum had to stay up during the nights to take care of me, felt so bad.Originally posted by BabyLover:oh u were lucky.. i heard a fren kenna n stayed 5days in hospital...
n had difficulty breathing too... -
ur mum worried mah.. most impt ur ok she happy le...Originally posted by ^spidee^:Yea, but it was really frustrating having on and off fever, and my Mum had to stay up during the nights to take care of me, felt so bad.
btw other than fever n rash... wat other symptoms u had? -
That was all. I remembered it was the school holidays and just before that, I was caught in a very heavy rain. My family thought it was just fever due to the rain, but turned out to be dengue instead.. Dunno where and when that mosquito bit me..Originally posted by BabyLover:ur mum worried mah.. most impt ur ok she happy le...
btw other than fever n rash... wat other symptoms u had?
-
wah lucky nvr take it for granted tat its juz becos of d rain hor...Originally posted by ^spidee^:That was all. I remembered it was the school holidays and just before that, I was caught in a very heavy rain. My family thought it was just fever due to the rain, but turned out to be dengue instead.. Dunno where and when that mosquito bit me..
arbo will drag even longer then very dangerous le...
huh...u mean oso no itch swollen bite? -
Terrible..my fren's bro kena dengue fever about a month ago, then now her grandma is hospitalised bcos of dengue fever also.
-
muz be the area ur fren stay... sumwhr kenna infected w aedes mos.. so dangerous like tat.. they shld complain n hv tat area fumigateOriginally posted by browniebaobao:Terrible..my fren's bro kena dengue fever about a month ago, then now her grandma is hospitalised bcos of dengue fever also. -
yea, heng ah!Originally posted by BabyLover:wah lucky nvr take it for granted tat its juz becos of d rain hor...
arbo will drag even longer then very dangerous le...
huh...u mean oso no itch swollen bite?
nope, just rashes. -
different areas. One was at Sentosa beach, the other one i duno where.Originally posted by BabyLover:muz be the area ur fren stay... sumwhr kenna infected w aedes mos.. so dangerous like tat.. they shld complain n hv tat area fumigate -
which area is top now?
used to be bedok, behind stadium. -
u really v lucky.. pple got vomitting n many others deOriginally posted by ^spidee^:yea, heng ah! nope, just rashes. 
-
oh icccOriginally posted by browniebaobao:different areas. One was at Sentosa beach, the other one i duno where. -
hmm.. no idea oso.. but east side like alot!Originally posted by dragg:which area is top now?
used to be bedok, behind stadium. -
dengue cases went up again..