With dengue cases on the rise, some residents are taking increased precautions but others believe the epidemic will be over soon.
In an effort to reduce the Aedes mosquito population and minimize dengue infections, the National Environment Agency continues to conduct residential inspections across clusters in the country. During their inspections, the NEA would search for violations of safety measures such as failure to remove stagnant water from containers.
Some residents refused to allow the NEA personnel to inspect their homes, arguing that there are “no mosquitoes in their house” so they did not need to be inspected.
Residents may be fined S$200 for each mosquito breeding offence, albeit unintentional. Repeat offenders may be fined S$5,000 or face three months of jail time. So far, the NEA has fined 900 homes for violating dengue precautionary measures.
Read: NEA fines 900 homes for unintentionally breeding aedes mosquitoes
Despite the dengue epidemic as well as the government’s efforts to control it, there are residents living in Singapore’s deadliest dengue cluster pleaded ignorance regarding the issue.
In a report by Today, a resident of Block 55 on Chai Chee Drive said that she was unaware that her block has the most number of deadly dengue cases in Singapore. Fifty-four residents have been infected with dengue since the year started, while a total of 117 people cases have been reported in the cluster since April. Other residents of Block 55 have reportedly taken precautions by installing mosquito nets on windows and not watering the plants, but others believe that the epidemic will be over soon enough.
Mozzies breed in stagnant water, even if it’s just the size of a 20¢ coin. So, no matter how clean your home is, remember to follow these steps. Keep your home spic, span and safe from Dengue too! #MozzieWipeout
Posted by NEA Stop Dengue Now on Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Speaker of Parliament for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency, said that the Kembangan-Chai Chee town council continues to “intensify” operations to fully control the dengue outbreak.
He said that “The situation is slowly improving but we are not out of the woods yet. We need to continue to keep up these efforts.”
The NEA encourages constant vigilance in the fight against dengue, and urges residents to practice safety measures such as practising the 5-step mozzie wipeout to eliminate breeding grounds for aedes mosquitoes./TISG
