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)
