11 Jun 2013
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Environment and Water Resources Minister
Vivian Balakrishnan said the country has reached a critical
juncture in the evolution of the dengue epidemic.
820 cases were reported last week, bringing the total number to
9,421. That is the highest ever in Singapore's history, surpassing
even the previous peak during the 2005 epidemic.
The minister said it is going to get worse before it gets any
better.
Apart from the rising numbers, there is evidence that dengue
clusters are spreading across Singapore from the east, west to the
northern regions.
There are four contributing factors to the current epidemic.
Firstly, the Aedes mosquito is now predominant across the island.
Secondly, the currently circulating dengue virus - Dengue Serotype
1 - has higher epidemic potential. Thirdly, the low immunity
amongst the population makes people more vulnerable. Lastly, the
hot and wet weather accelerates the life cycle of the Aedes
mosquito and increases the likelihood of stagnant water
accumulating.
Dr Balakrishnan said: "Our numbers are still rising and we are
going into a peak dengue season so we cannot afford to lose control
at this stage."
The National Environment Agency (NEA) will step up surveillance and
inspection.
It will recruit another 300 officers over the next two months so
that all premises in dengue clusters can be checked within a
week.
Officers will be equipped with a new aerosol spray and it will be
applied to dark corners of homes. The spray is said to last in the
air longer and is more deadly to mosquitoes.
1.2 million insect repellents will also be distributed for free to
households in dengue clusters.
Homes remain the top culprit for breeding spots.
Mr Balakrishnan said: "Infectious diseases are a test of special
cohesion as a society and we need everyone to understand that our
own health depends on the health of our neighbours and we need to
exercise personal and collective responsibility for each
other."
The Health Ministry has sent circulars to hospitals reminding them
to be on heightened alert and give priority to returning A & E
patients.
It has also released an additional 160 beds since March 2013, of
which only 10 per cent are in use. By the end of the year, there
will be another 90 beds added.
Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health, said: “We have been
working with every hospital, right down to the restructured
hospitals to see where the added capacity can come from. And as the
minister has said, the total absolute number of additional beds is
there to cater to any surge in demand for beds due to dengue
cases."
So far, only about 1.8 per cent of beds in public hospitals are
occupied by dengue patients. Less than 30 per cent of dengue cases
are admitted to hospital.
On the management of suspected dengue patients, authorities
stressed that proper procedures are in place.
They added that most patients do recover from the
disease.
So far, there have been two dengue-related deaths here this
year.
The victims died after being discharged from A & E and
re-admitted to hospital due to worsening conditions.
This has led some to raise concerns over the way suspected dengue
cases are managed.
"Our doctors are working very hard on the ground... We can all sit
down here and pontificate but there is no substitute for clinical
judgement and one-on-one interaction for doctors. Our duty at the
ministry level and administrative level is to make sure all the
resources that are needed are available, so that whether you need
beds, whether you need drugs, whether you need drips, whether you
need any diagnostic tools, all those things are available, so that
doctors can do what they do best," said Dr Balakrishnan.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/evolution-of-dengue/705176.html
