Dengue cases are on the rise, with 416 new infections recorded in the week spanning March 31 to April 6, marking an increase of 67 cases from the previous week. According to data from the National Environment Agency (NEA), over 5,500 individuals have been infected in the first 14 weeks of 2024, with seven fatalities reported as of March 25, primarily affecting the elderly.
In 2023, there were 9,949 reported cases of dengue and six deaths. Currently, there are 90 active dengue clusters, with 20 clusters containing 10 or more cases, according to NEA. Notable clusters include one with 118 cases in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and Avenue 4, another with 83 cases in Marsiling Road and Marsiling Rise, and a cluster with 53 cases in Gangsa Road.
The surge in cases precedes the traditional peak dengue season from May to October, a concern highlighted by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng during the launch of the National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2024 on March 31. NEA has observed consistently high weekly reported dengue cases exceeding 300 since the beginning of 2024.
The NEA body warns that the combination of high mosquito population and low population immunity to all four dengue virus serotypes could result in a further increase in cases in the coming months without adequate intervention. Professor Hsu Li Yang from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health noted a higher number of cases compared to recent years, possibly attributed to factors such as increased heat.
NEA has also noted an uptick in mosquito-breeding sites, both indoors and outdoors. While dengue infections are typically mild or asymptomatic, they can lead to severe illness or death in rare cases.
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