Update on Chikungunya Fever Situation(4)

17 Sep 2008

Current overall situation

There have been an additional 18 cases of chikungunya fever (including five imported cases) since the last update. As of 17 September 2008, a total of 218 cases were notified this year. Of these, 102 were imported cases with history of travel to Johor (81 cases) and other states of Malaysia (12 cases), Indonesia (four cases), Sri Lanka (two cases), India (two cases) and the Maldives (one case). The rest were 116 locally acquired infections which probably occurred at 24 separate locations, including 41 cases in Kranji Way, 20 from Sungei Kadut, 13 from Little India, seven from Lim Chu Kang Lane 2, seven from Bah Soon Pah Road, five from Pasir Panjang Wholesale market, three from Mandai Estate, two from Teacher's Estate, two from Seletar Farmway and two from Bangkit Road.

Most of the patients have since recovered except for a few recent cases who are still hospitalised.

New imported cases

Of the five imported cases, four were Singapore residents who had travelled to Malaysia prior to their onset of illness, and one was a Malaysian who worked in Singapore and had returned to Malaysia prior to onset of illness.

New local cases

Of the thirteen local cases, there are two new clusters identified and four are linked to existing clusters.

New cluster at Bah Soon Pah Road – Seven construction workers aged 29-41 years developed symptoms between 6 and 14 Sep and were admitted to hospital. Six of them stayed at Bah Soon Pah Road and the remaining one worked at a nearby construction site.  Investigations are in progress.

New cluster at Bangkit Road – A 65-year-old housewife and her 69-year-old husband developed symptoms on 9 Sep and 11 Sep. They sought outpatient treatment and have since recovered.  Investigations are in progress.

Cases linked to existing clusters

Lim Chu Kang - A new case who stayed at Lim Chua Kang Lane 3 developed symptoms on 11 Sep. This brings the total number of cases in the cluster to seven.

Sungei Kadut - Three new cases in the Sungei Kadut vicinity developed symptoms between 7 and 11 Sep. This brings the total number of cases in the cluster to 20.

Updates on vector control operations by the National Environment Agency (NEA)

Intensive vector control remains the primary control to prevent spread of Chikungunya. Upon each notification by the Ministry of Health, the NEA would carry out vector control operations in and around the cases’ residential premises, including their work places and places that they frequent. Mosquito breedings detected are destroyed immediately and enforcement actions are taken against owners/occupiers of premises found with mosquito breedings. Premises owners/occupiers are also advised on the measures needed to keep their premises free of further mosquito breedings.