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