Third cluster of suspected local malaria transmission

29 Jul 2009

1. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is currently investigating a third malaria cluster involving four cases of suspected local transmission of vivax malaria near a row of shophouses located at the junction of Sembawang Road and Admiralty Road East.

   Malaria cluster at Sembawang Road

2. The first case is a 24-year-old Singaporean female who works in a vicinity of the shophouses. Her illness onset was on 30 Jun 09 and she was admitted to hospital on 20 July 09. She does not have any recent travel history or past history of malaria. The second and third cases involve a 49-year-old Singaporean male and a 40-year-old Singaporean female who are colleagues and had frequented a coffeeshop at the row of shophouses. The male patient had onset of illness on 11 July and was admitted to hospital on 15 July 09. The female patient had onset of illness on 12 July and was admitted to hospital on 17 July 09. The fourth case is a 24-year-old male foreign worker who was picked up during the Ministry of Health's active case finding in the vicinity. He stayed at a nursery beside the row of shophouses and first had symptoms on 12 June 09. He was admitted to hospital on 28 July 09. 

3. The first three cases have since recovered, while the fourth case is currently warded in CDC. This latest cluster is not related to the two earlier clusters as none of the 4 cases had visited Jurong Island or Mandai/Sungei Kadut prior to their onset of illness.

4. Upon notification of the cases by MOH on 28 July 09, the National Environmental Agency (NEA) has initiated vector control operations at the site of the outbreak. Larviciding of potential mosquito breeding habitats has been carried out.  Adult mosquito trapping operations were conducted on the night of 28 July. 13 adult Anopheles mosquitoes were found, but all tested by the Environmental Health Institute to be negative for malaria parasites. This evening, mass fogging in the area will be carried out. Stakeholders in the area have been alerted to step up mosquito prevention measures in the premises under their charge. The NEA is monitoring the situation closely and will continue with intensive vector control operations.

5. MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public on any new developments.

   MOH's advice to the public

6. Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease. The symptoms include fever, chills, muscle pains, joint pains and headache. Anyone who experiences these symptoms and had visited the affected area in the past 4 weeks should seek immediate medical attention.  

7. The best way to prevent malaria is to avoid frequenting places where the mosquito vector is known to be active. This mosquito vector bites mostly at dusk and at night. If you cannot avoid going to these places, then wear clothes that completely cover the arms, legs and put on insect repellent.

8. As a precautionary measure, residents living in the vicinity are advised to use mosquito coils and repellents, and sleep under mosquito netting. 

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY