Surge in Dengue Cases in South East Asia
August 24, 2007
In swampy waters, beneath the flower pots, in gutters, tanks or coolers, the environment protection authorities are searching for them everywhere. They know that, wherever water has accumulated for a longer period, the Aedes mosquito may be breeding. A small insect, with black-and-white legs, that can transfer the dangerous dengue virus and cause fever or a deadly viral infection.
Dengue outbreak
Singapore has already reported more than 5000 dengue cases this year, far more than the past years. The country’s national environment agency has deployed hundreds of inspectors to conduct house to house searches in an effort to find places where the mosquitoes are breeding. Tai Ji Choong, the chief of the so-called dengue police in Singapore, explains: “Our main strategy for Dengue control is the removal of the habitats of Mosquito, where they breed. This strategy is most effective and recommended by the World Health Organization.”
The virus, transmitted by the aedes mosquito, can cause severe fever, headaches, rashes, muscle and joint pains. Experts say, the first infection is usually mild, but a second infection can prove to be fatal. And so far there is no vaccine to treat it.
Peter Yong, a resident from the east of Singapore, relates his experience: “My daughter had Dengue some years ago, we know thus exactly, what that means. It is a very painful illness.”
Neighbors also affected
Meanwhile Singapore’s other Southeast Asian neighbours are also in the midst of this epidemic. In Thailand, the number of the Dengue cases rose by 36 per cent this year and has already claimed 17 lives. Also in Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar, the situation has been particularly bad this year.
The last major dengue outbreak to hit Southeast Asia was in 1998, when about 300,000 cases were reported region wide, including nearly 1,500 deaths. However, after looking at the rising number of infections this year, health experts have already warned that the region could face a far worse outbreak this year, if prevention and precautions are not taken immediately.