Dengue cases doubled in first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023, continued urgent action needed to prevent surge in cases this year
Singapore, 31 March 2024 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2024 today, ahead of the traditional peak dengue season of May to October. At the launch event at Bukit Batok, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment, Mr Baey Yam Keng, urged collective responsibility and action to fight dengue, amidst the ongoing dengue situation.
Dengue Outlook in 2024: Cases Doubled in First Quarter Compared to Same Period in 2023
2 Dengue is a serious disease and could lead to death. Over 5,000 dengue cases were reported in the first quarter of 2024, more than double the 2,360 cases reported in the same period last year. As of 25 March 2024, a total of seven dengue deaths due to local dengue infection have been notified
3 The weekly number of reported dengue cases has remained high, at above 300, since the start of 2024. The Aedes aegypti mosquito population has also remained high, with the number of Aedes mosquito breeding habitats found at residential premises in January 2024 double that of January 2023. Our population in Singapore has low immunity to all four Dengue virus serotypes too. The continued presence of all these dengue risk factors may lead to a surge in dengue cases in the coming months, if insufficient action is taken.
Dengue Situation in 2023: Outbreak Averted Due to Intensified Efforts
4 Dengue risk factors noted last year include the: high Aedes mosquito vector population, high baseline of dengue cases at the start of the year, and low population immunity against the Dengue virus. Globally, there was also an upsurge in dengue cases, with a historic high of over five million cases and more than 5,000 dengue-related deaths in over 80 countries and territories in Africa, the Americas, South-East Asia, Western Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean regions [1].
5 Stepped-up prevention and control measures taken last year to prevent a dengue outbreak include: continued community efforts in removing stagnant water, intensified vector control measures, as well as increased public communications and outreach efforts [2] . Singapore saw the number of dengue cases drop to 9,949 in 2023, down from the 32,173 cases seen in 2022. This is a decrease by 69 per cent compared to the 32,173 reported dengue cases in 2022.
6 NEA’s Project Wolbachia has also seen positive results across study sites [3]. At Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Tampines and Yishun, there has been more than 90 per cent reduction in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population. Data from 2019 to 2022 indicates that residents living in areas with at least one year of mosquito releases are up to 77 per cent less likely to be infected with dengue. Preliminary data from the eight study sites (under the multi-site field study) launched in June 2022 also suggest reductions of more than 80 per cent in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population.
7 NEA would like to thank all stakeholders, including premises operators, partners of the Inter-Agency Dengue Taskforce, Town Councils, grassroots leaders, community partners and volunteers, for their efforts in the fight against dengue.
Collective Responsibility and Action Remain Key to Fighting Dengue
8 Similar to last year, working with stakeholders to step up community awareness and dengue prevention efforts is critical. The National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2024 [4] emphasises that dengue prevention is a social responsibility, and will continue to rally the community to remain vigilant and reduce the risk of dengue infection.
9 NEA will also continue to combat dengue with Project Wolbachia. Following successful results, NEA has progressively expanded the project to five additional residential sites, increasing coverage from 350,000 households in 2023, to 480,000 households by the first quarter of 2024 – an increase from 26 per cent to 35 per cent of households in Singapore. Regular mosquito releases could help mitigate dengue outbreaks at these areas, complementing community efforts to prevent mosquito breeding.
10 In the Year of Public Hygiene, which places strong emphasis on the collective efforts of all stakeholders to uphold high standards of public hygiene, everyone is reminded that they have a critical role to play in dengue prevention and control. NEA urges all stakeholders to take immediate action to suppress the Aedes mosquito population and break disease transmission at their premises, by regularly practising the following ‘B-L-O-C-K’ steps:
- Break up hardened soil
- Lift and empty flowerpot plates
- Overturn pails and wipe their rims
- Change water in vases
- Keep roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide inside
11 Residents, especially those residing at dengue cluster areas, should do their part and carry out the ‘S-A-W’ protective actions against dengue:
- Spray insecticide in dark corners around the house
- Apply insect repellent regularly
- Wear long-sleeve tops and long pants
12 Individuals diagnosed with or suspected to be infected with dengue are also advised to avoid further mosquito bites by carrying out the S-A-W actions, to prevent passing on the Dengue virus to mosquitoes and other people in their neighbourhoods.
13 Residents and premises owners can check the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg) regularly for dengue updates, and use the myENV mobile app to set alerts on areas with dengue clusters and high Aedes aegypti mosquito populations.
[2] Intensified Dengue Prevention and Control Efforts in 2023 in Annex A.
[3] Impact of Project Wolbachia is explained in Annex B.
[4] Details of NEA’s National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2024 are available in Annex C.
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ANNEX A
Intensified Dengue Prevention and Control Efforts in 2023
o Conducted over 813,000 inspections
o Uncovered more than 19,600 mosquito breeding habitats - 51 per cent were found in homes; 38 per cent were found at public areas; 5 per cent were found at construction sites
o Took about 11,200 [5] enforcement actions against owners of premises for mosquito breeding
o Issued about 800 enforcement actions and 108 Stop Work Orders to construction sites. 104 contractors were charged in court for repeat offences
- Grassroots organisations provided strong support, holding more than 500 outreach activities to encourage residents to regularly perform B-L-O-C-K steps to prevent mosquito breeding, and practise S-A-W steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites especially at dengue cluster areas.
- Over 600 NEA volunteers were deployed to conduct dengue outreach activities at around 200 locations across Singapore, to educate residents on ways to prevent and protect against dengue.
- NEA worked with:
o Supermarket chains such as DFI Retail Group and NTUC FairPrice, and insect repellent manufacturers such as Reckitt, SC Johnson Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd and Soffell Singapore, to incorporate dengue prevention messages at their retail sales displays at almost 800 stores islandwide.
o Industry associations such as National Taxi Association, and non-government organisations such as Singapore Kindness Movement, to extend dengue prevention messages to their networks.
o Singapore Contractors Associations Limited (SCAL) to engage the construction industry and rally its support.
o Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force (IADTF) members and Town Councils to train more than 120 staff on dengue prevention and control. Trained staff were tasked to lead dengue control efforts at the premises under their charge.
[5] Provisional data as of 6 March 2024.
ANNEX B
Project Wolbachia Heatmaps Showing ‘Eraser Effect’
- At Project Wolbachia study sites with more than a year of male Wolbachia-Aedes mosquito releases, residents are 77 per cent less likely to be infected with dengue.
- Preliminary data from the eight study sites (under the multi-site field study) where releases began in June 2022 suggested more than 80 per cent reduction in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population.
- Heatmaps showed the “eraser effect”, where previously dark red areas (indicating high Aedes aegypti mosquito population) gradually faded to indicate low Aedes aegypti mosquito population after Wolbachia-Aedes mosquito releases.
- Scientific studies will continue to evaluate the impact of Project Wolbachia, and improve cost-effectiveness and deployment strategies.
ANNEX C
NEA’s National Dengue Prevention Campaign 2024
- This year’s campaign emphasises that dengue prevention is a social responsibility, and continues to rally the community to remain vigilant and reduce dengue cases. Through the refreshed overarching concept of ‘Little Acts, Lethal Impact’, the campaign conveys the dual message that our little actions in practising B-L-O-C-K and S-A-W steps can have a lethal impact on mosquitoes and dengue. Conversely, our inaction could lead to lethal health consequences for ourselves and those around us.
- The campaign will be amplified across various media touchpoints to educate and engage residents on dengue prevention. NEA and MOH will work with General Practitioner clinics and polyclinics, to engage individuals diagnosed or suspected to be infected with dengue to help stop dengue transmission in the community. Posters and brochures will be issued, to share tips on preventing further disease transmission and clinical aftercare.
- Ground outreach efforts will be led by local Grassroots Advisers and Leaders, with support from NEA’s volunteers, to intensify dengue prevention outreach through community activities and house visits at dengue cluster areas and areas with high Aedes aegypti mosquito population. Nationwide outreach will be conducted over at least three months, to sustain awareness throughout the traditional peak dengue season.
