Singapore reports third dengue fever death as total cases continue to rise
An 86-year-old Singaporean Chinese male is the third dengue fever related fatality in the city-state this year, according to the Singaporean Ministry of Health.
According to health authorities, the case is as follows:
Aedes aegypti
Image/CDC
The patient went to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) emergency department (ED) on 22 June 2013 with a one-day history of fever and was found to have low blood pressure. He was admitted on the same day and subsequently diagnosed to have dengue shock syndrome with kidney failure and liver inflammation. He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on 24 June 2013. His condition continued to deteriorate in the ICU despite blood transfusions and supportive therapy. He passed away on 25 June 2013.
The number of dengue cases in Singapore continues to rise with a yearly total as of June 26 at 11,343, according to the National Environmental Agency (NEA).
Vector control operations are ongoing to detect and destroy any potential breeding habitats at the vicinity of the case’s residence in the Sembawang Road area.
For the safety of the community, health officials say they hope that residents will cooperate fully with the NEA inspectors conducting ground operations. Although it is a non-cluster area, we urge residents to remain vigilant and protect themselves with repellent and clear any stagnant water in their homes and vicinity.
Singapore had the worst dengue epidemic in 2005, when about 14, 000 people were infected, with 25 deaths.
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The mosquito is never born with the virus but can only collect it from an infected person – and it is the infected person who multiplies the virus, becoming a human reservoir for all the time the fever lasts.
THIS IS WHY IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE PATIENT FROM FURTHER BITES
Much emphasis is rightly put on eliminating mosquito breeding grounds to control the carriers, but strangely no advice is ever given to restrict the virus’s availability at its only source – us!
It is indeed all Aedes species that can be carriers but the ‘aegypti’ is more often the culprit as it has almost become domesticated and is never found more than 50 metres or so away from humans (its meal of choice). One of the Aedes ‘aegypti’ traits is to forage ALL day so without a sealed air conditioned room for the patient then repellent must be applied ALL DAY.
However, it is always recommended never to over apply DEET or use it for too long – and DEET is found in most repellents. It is also now known the aegypti mosquito is rapidly developing a resistsance to DEET….so look out for proven natural repellents such as OnGuard from South Africa (www.onguard.me)