Singapore: Fifth dengue fever death reported, chikungunya cases on the rise
The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) are reporting the fifth locally-acquired dengue fever death of the year, according to a MOH press release Tuesday.
Aedes mosquito Image/CDC
The patient was a 52-year-old Chinese male from Corporation Walk who was first seen at Jurong Polyclinic on 29 Jun 2013 with a 2-day history of fever. He returned to the polyclinic on 4 Jul 2013 as he was still having fever. He was referred by the Polyclinic to the National University Hospital (NUH) emergency department (ED) and was admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit on the same day.
He was diagnosed with Dengue Shock Syndrome. The patient’s condition improved transiently after dialysis and supportive therapy but he remained critically ill with low blood counts. The patient’s condition deteriorated after he developed pneumonia with septic shock on 11 Aug. He passed away on 13 Aug.
Health officials say the patient’s residence was in a dengue cluster of three cases which closed on 17 Jul 2013 and two breeding habitats were found in July, one in a vase and another in a flower pot.
The total number of cases of dengue in Singapore stands at 14,413 for the year to date; however, the good news is the epidemic appears to be slowing with less than 300 cases reported during each of the past two weeks. A couple of months ago, Singapore was reporting more than 800 cases in a week.
While this mosquito borne viral disease appears to be declining, another one, chikungunya is being reported in high numbers.
The Straits Times reports close to 500 people have been infected with chikungunya this year – compared with a total of 60 cases in the three years between 2010 and last year.
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