The Communicable Diseases Surveillance in Singapore 2000

Quarantine and Epidemiology

Annual Report 2000

Preface

Epidemiological surveillance and research of infectious diseases are carried out to monitor the disease situation, identify outbreaks, formulate and evaluate prevention and control strategies. This is done in order to safeguard the health of the Singapore population. This annual publication is a compilation of the surveillance and research activities carried out by the Quarantine and Epidemiology Department, Ministry of the Environment, in the year 2000. It includes all notifiable diseases in Singapore, except tuberculosis, leprosy, the sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. It also documents the results of epidemiological surveys conducted on various infectious diseases and environment-related health problems.

The purpose of this publication is to facilitate easy reference for public health officials, doctors, researchers and academics. This annual publication started in 1975 and it owes its success to the diligent efforts of all the staff in the department. It is hoped that this annual review will continue to serve as a useful compendium for the monitoring and research of infectious diseases in Singapore.

In order to access the information, please download Acrobat Reader software.

I) An overview of the communicable disease situation in Singapore, 2000

II) Vector-borne diseases

• Malaria

• Dengue Fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever

• Japanese encephalitis

III) Food-borne diseases

• Cholera

• Enteric fevers (typhoid and paratyphoid)

• Shigellosis

• Salmonellosis

• Food poisoning

• Diarrhoeal diseases surveillance

IV) Viral hepatitis

V) Air-borne diseases

• Measles

• Mumps

• Rubella

• Chickenpox

• Influenza

• Viral conjunctivities

• Parvovirus B19 infection

VI) Environment-related diseases

• Legionellosis

• Melioidosis

VII) Emerging infectious diseases

• Hand, foot and mouth disease

• Meningococcal disease

• Campylobacter enteritis

• E. coli O157:H7

• Listeriosis

VIII) Epidemiological surveys

• Microbiological examination of 'Yu Sheng'

• Biological monitoring of human exposure to environmental cadmium

• Assessment of carbon dioxide levels in office buildings

• Investigations into building-related health problems

• Surveys on heavy metals and phthalates in soft toys

• Survey on heavy metal contents in colour pencils

IX) Evaluation of the childhood immunisation programme in Singapore

• Immunisation programme in 2000

• Implementation of the immunisation programme

• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

• Poliomyelitis

• Measles/mumps/rubella

• Hepatitis B

X) References and bibliography