SINGAPORE: In May, 14 people in Singapore came down with
malaria, which is a serious and potentially deadly disease that is
transmitted through bites from infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
The Health Ministry (MOH) said it is investigating the cases as
suspected local transmission, as all 14 cases did not travel
overseas recently.
The first malaria cluster at Jurong Island involved five foreign
workers, aged between 25 and 37. The workers came down with fever,
headache and chills between May 3 and 25.
Four of the workers stayed at the same dormitory and worked at the
same site on Jurong Island, while the fifth worker worked near
their dormitory and worksite.
The second cluster at Sungei Kadut and Mandai involved eight
foreign workers from different dormitories and one full-time
National Serviceman. This group of patients fell sick between May
16 and 30.
As of Saturday, 12 of the 14 patients have been discharged.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has conducted inspections at
the worksites and dormitories in the affected areas, and has
instructed dormitory operators to carry out pest control
measures.
MOH is monitoring the situation closely and will update the public
on any new developments.
- CNA/so