One more Singaporean has been hit by the mosquito-borne, dengue-like chikungunya fever in Singapore, bringing the total number of cases to 11 so far, local media reported Saturday.
Channel NewsAsia quoted the Health Ministry as saying that the latest case detected on Friday is a Singaporean with no recent travel history and who spent some time daily in the Little India area.
The first 10 cases of the tropical disease, which are all linked to the Clive Street area in Little India, are detected as locally transmitted.
Nine of the 11 cases were admitted at the Communicable Disease Center for isolation and management, said the report.
Persons infected with chikungunya fever should stay indoors to prevent from being bitten again by mosquitoes, which may spread the infection further.
Channel NewsAsia said that all have been discharged, except for two who are still under observation, including the latest case.
Since the first case was detected on January 14, the authorities have screened 1,795 people within a 150-meter radius of the affected section.
Checks were later expanded to cover a larger area and the latest case had spent time within the extended screening area.
Like the dengue virus, the chikungunya virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito. The symptoms include fever, joint pains, chills and nausea.
Since there is currently no vaccine for the chikungunya fever, destroying mosquito breeding sites is an efficient way to prevent transmission.
(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2008)
