Seventy-Two-Year-Old Woman Passes Away from Dengue

1    The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have been notified of the death of a dengue patient at Changi General Hospital (CGH). MOH and NEA wish to express our deepest condolences to the family of the patient.

2    The patient was a 72-year-old Singaporean female who stayed at Simei Street 1. She was admitted to CGH on 22 June 2016. Her condition deteriorated and she passed away on 25 June 2016. 

3    The patient’s residence at Simei Street 1 was an active 2-case dengue cluster, which was notified on 25 June 2016. During the cluster, NEA had inspected the premises in the area, and detected and destroyed one mosquito breeding in a bamboo pole holder at Blk 135 Simei Street 1. The cluster has since closed on 4 July 2016. NEA will continue with routine surveillance to check for and destroy any potential breeding habitats.

4    We urge all members of the public and stakeholders to stay vigilant and continue to work as a community to prevent dengue cases from rising. As we are in the traditional peak dengue season, we are anticipating an upward trend in the number of dengue cases in the coming months. Since April, NEA’s Gravitrap data has shown a steady increase in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population in our community and remains high. As a large proportion of our population is susceptible to dengue infection due to the lack of immunity, an increase in the Aedes mosquito population could lead to a surge in dengue cases unless measures are taken to suppress the Aedes mosquito population.

5    We encourage everyone to join in the collective effort to help stop the dengue transmission cycle by doing the 5-step Mozzie Wipeout. All stakeholders need to remove stagnant water from our environment, so as to deprive the mosquitoes of their breeding habitats. Inverting pails and plant pot plates, changing water in vases regularly, and capping bamboo pole holders when they are not in use are simple steps that everyone can take to prevent mosquitoes from establishing a foothold in our neighbourhoods.

6    The latest updates on the dengue situation can be found at the Stop Dengue Now Facebook page, www.dengue.gov.sg or the myENV app. Persons infected with dengue should protect themselves from mosquito bites by applying repellent regularly, and those showing symptoms suggestive of dengue should see their General Practitioners early to be diagnosed.