NEA website has all info on dengue

The following letter is form the ST Forum of the Straits Times dated 25 October 2010, Monday.

WE THANK Mr Lim Hai Leong for his interest in dengue control and sharing his ideas with us ('Dengue cases: Review the reporting of these numbers, as interpreting them can influence how we tackle the problem'; Oct 13)

The National Environment Agency (NEA) publishes the locality of dengue fever cases on its website to alert residents in the area to rid their premises of breeding grounds. Information on what residents can do to protect themselves and family members from dengue fever is also available on the website.

We agree with the writer that information such as the number of people who have recovered from the disease or the disease infection rate is useful, but more so for disease monitoring and control purposes by the authorities.

The NEA has two key criteria for clustering of dengue cases. A dengue cluster is formed when two or more dengue cases occur within 14 days from the onset of their fever and the likely places of infection are within 150m of each other.

A cluster will be closed only when no new case is reported after 14 days from the onset of fever of the last dengue case.

The clustering of cases is important as it helps in vector control management. We assure Mr Lim that our inspections on the ground at Telok Blangah extend beyond the cluster radius by 50m to 100m. All common areas frequented by dengue cases in the cluster are also inspected to eliminate possible sources of infection.

Thus far, no fatality has been reported in these two clusters and one of the clusters has closed.

S. Satish Appoo
Director Environmental Health Department
National Environment Agency

School closure: Help S'poreans who have no protection

The following letter is from ST Forum of the Straits Times dated 25 October 2010, Monday.

MY SON was one of the students affected by the closure of the School of Applied Studies ('Private school closes suddenly'; last Friday).

At a meeting last Wednesday evening, the school's chief executive and representatives from the Council for Private Education (CPE) and a bank had briefed students and parents on the situation.

I hope the CPE and the relevant authorities would resolve some of the issues raised and ensure that the promises made by the school's CEO are kept.

The Straits Times report quoted a CPE spokesman as saying that the private school was working with the insurance providers and escrow banks to work out how much money would be returned to students.

There are a number of Singaporean students who paid their fees last year before the implementation of the fee protection system, and they are left with no recourse.

One such student, the child of a single parent, paid $32,000 (total sum for courses leading to a degree) after taking a bank loan. Now, the parent does not know how to get the remaining fees back, and the student has just a diploma.

Another Singaporean student who paid $36,000 last year is also not protected under any system.

When the new fee insurance system was implemented, such students should have been provided protection. Will anyone be punished for this oversight?

Steps should also be taken to improve the new protection system and plug its loopholes.
Upon checking my son's insurance certificate sent to us after he had completed two semesters, I noted that the limit of indemnity for the fee paid had been under-declared by the school.

Lim Siew Imm (Ms)