SINGAPORE: A 20-year-old Singaporean Chinese has become the
first person to die of dengue in the current epidemic in
Singapore.
The news of the death first broke on the Facebook page of
Cuesports Singapore, a national sports association (NSA).
It identified the man as Mr Ang Yong Han, a competitive pool
player.
In a joint statement released on Thursday evening, the
Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA)
said they have been notified of the death of a dengue patient who
lived at Hougang Avenue 1.
They said this is the first dengue death case this year and it
highlights the urgency for greater community vigilance to stamp out
possible mosquito-breeding spots.
Mr Ang was seen at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) Emergency
Department (ED) on 23 May and diagnosed as having viral fever, said
the statement.
His condition was reported to be stable and he was discharged
with advice to return to the ED if his symptoms worsened.
He was also asked to visit an outpatient clinic for follow up
and a repeat blood test.
Mr Ang subsequently returned to TTSH's ED on 26 May and was
admitted as a dengue case.
His condition worsened despite the aggressive blood transfusion
treatment, organ systems support and close monitoring, said a TTSH
statement. Mr Ang died from Dengue Shock Syndrome on 29
May.
Family members of Mr Ang told reporters that his death was
sudden, because he died just a few days after being admitted. They
said that his blood platelet count dropped to a dangerously low
level in a matter of days. Questions still remain on their minds as
to how his illness was not detected earlier.
Those who knew Mr Ang said his future as an athlete was
bright.
As a pool player, he had just joined the national training
squad.
Mr Aaron Koh, who is in charge of the players at Cuesports
Singapore, said: "I think it's a great loss for the pool community
because character-wise he's a very nice guy and of course he had
the potential to be one of the top players in Singapore."
NEA is conducting thorough vector control operations at the
vicinity of Mr Ang's residence in Hougang, which is a dengue
cluster.
Singapore is currently in the midst of a dengue fever
outbreak.
So far, more than 8,000 people have come down with the viral
infection that is spread by the Aedes mosquito.
The authorities urge residents to cooperate fully with NEA
inspectors conducting ground operations.
They also strongly encourage all Singaporeans to take
appropriate precautions to prevent mosquito breeding by doing the
Mozzie Wipeout weekly.
cna