Singapore Struggles with Dengue Fever Amid COVID-19 Challenges...

Infection from Forest Mosquito Bites, 20% Mortality Rate
Dengue Fever Cases Exceed 4,000
Twice as Many as Same Period Last Year
Co-infection of Dengue Fever and COVID-19
Concerns Over Spread from June to October as Heat Intensifies

[Asia Economy Singapore Correspondent Seo Jumi] Following the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), dengue fever is also rampant in Singapore. Dengue fever is transmitted by forest mosquitoes, and if not properly treated, it can have a mortality rate of up to 20%.

On the 31st, local media including The Straits Times reported in an article titled "Fighting a war against dengue fever amid the battle with COVID-19" that the number of dengue fever cases in Singapore recently exceeded 4,000. According to the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA), this figure is about twice as high as the same period last year.

The sharp increase in dengue fever patients this year is due to the spread of a different form of the virus compared to previous cases. The Straits Times reported, "In recent years, dengue virus serotypes Den(V)1 and Den(V)2 have been prevalent, but this year, the Den(V)3 serotype, which was epidemic 30 years ago, is rapidly increasing." The NEA stated that among patients reported up to February, about 48% were infected with V3, adding, "Since the V3 proportion has been relatively low until now, people may be more vulnerable to infection."

Singaporean authorities are on high alert for the possibility of more infection cases from June to October, when the heat intensifies. If mosquito population control is not managed at this point, the likelihood of dengue fever spreading increases accordingly. Notably, there have recently been cases in Singapore where patients infected with dengue fever also tested positive for the coronavirus. Experts say this is a very rare occurrence, but public anxiety remains high.

According to an NEA survey, over the past three years, more than 3,000 mosquito breeding habitats have been found in Singapore, mainly in plastic containers and empty beverage cans. It has been found that about 65% of recyclables in Singapore are discarded as waste, prompting calls for active awareness improvement.

In Singapore, if mosquito breeding sites are found in homes or businesses, a fine of 200 Singapore dollars (approximately 170,000 Korean won) is imposed regardless of the presence of the dengue virus.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.