Dengue cases rising in 2022, NEA urges public to stay vigilant

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is advising Singapore residents to be proactive in preventing mosquito breeding as dengue case numbers have increased noticeably in the past five weeks.

Last week alone saw 183 new dengue cases. The Aedes aegypti mosquito population also increased by almost 20 per cent in December 2021 compared to August 2021, said the NEA in a press release on Jan 25. 

The large number of people working from home poses an increased risk of dengue infection as the Aedes mosquito breeds in stagnant water at home and bites during the day.

Those who have already had dengue before may still be at risk of getting it again, as a less common virus serotype, DENV-3, has been detected in two of the large dengue clusters. 

The Chinese New Year period also poses an increased risk of dengue transmission as more people are decorating their homes with ornamental plants. 

To encourage more plant owners to maintain vigilance, NEA is partnering plant nurseries in several mini contests hosted on Instagram at @cleanandgreensg. Participants stand to win exclusive red packets and plant pot stickers. 

Due to the risk factors mentioned above, the NEA predicts that dengue case numbers in 2022 will exceed that of 2021. As such, all residents are advised to ensure that their homes are free of stagnant water as much as possible. 

Head here for information on the current active dengue clusters and case numbers.