{"id":14368,"date":"2020-04-16T17:14:10","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T09:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/parentsworld.com.sg\/?p=14368"},"modified":"2020-04-16T17:14:10","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T09:14:10","slug":"battling-dengue-another-threat-looming-large-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/parentsworld.com.sg\/2020\/04\/16\/battling-dengue-another-threat-looming-large-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Battling Dengue-Another Threat Looming Large in Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Amidst the COVID-19 crisis is another danger lurking in Singapore that of Dengue, a viral infection caused by the Aedes <\/em>mosquito.  Dengue Fever is one of the most common mosquito-borne viral diseases in the world.

Reports point out that the early months of this year have already seen a huge spike in dengue cases in Singapore and it is not dengue season yet as the typical dengue season runs from May to September. As on 14th<\/sup> April, 2020 a total of 5,433 dengue cases<\/a> have been reported, more than double the same period last year. There are presently 103 active dengue clusters reported across the island – NEA <\/p>\n\n\n

Why Are Dengue Cases On the Rise Here? <\/h3>\n\n\n

A disturbing fact in the dengue situation is the re-emergence of the virus strain DenV-3 in Singapore after 30 years. The last few years have been seeing a switch between the two virus strains predominant here- DenV-1 and DenV-2. This means that most Singaporeans have no immunity against the mosquito-transmitted virus type DenV-3 and experts fear an outbreak <\/a>as a large proportion of the population is susceptible to dengue.<\/p>\n\n\n

These facts and figures are sobering and remind us that we can\u2019t afford  to be complacent in the battle against dengue even as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The stringent circuit breaker measures put in place to counter the pandemic have in fact compounded the problem as workplaces, schools, commercial buildings, nurseries, places of worship and construction sites are closed for a long period of time and these can potentially turn breeding grounds for mosquitoes if safeguards are not put in place. This has prompted NEA to remind business owners to ensure that adequate vector control measures are taken even during periods of closure to prevent emergence of new clusters. <\/p>\n\n\n

What Can We Do to Contain a Dengue Outbreak?<\/h3>\n\n\n

As government bodies such as National Environment Agency [NEA] and the Inter-Agency Dengue Taskforce (IADTF) do their bit; we the members of the public also have responsibility to play our part. This is what we can do to keep our homes free from mosquitoes and protect our loved ones from bites: <\/p>\n\n\n

Vector Control: Prevent Breeding of Mosquitoes<\/h4>\n\n\n