National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore warned the residents on the background of 735 cases last week which was the highest in more than five years. 

As of 31 May, NEA report 291 new cases and expecting a historical high of 891 cases in the weeks to come.

As of 3pm on 2 June, there had been  9,261 infections which are far more than double the number last year for the same period.

“The number of dengue cases this year is expected to exceed the 15,998 cases reported in 2019, and may even surpass the 22,170 cases reported in 2013” NEA reports. 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said the 12 people who died after getting the mosquito-borne disease were aged between 56 and 80 years old. Of them, 10 worked or resided in active dengue clusters. In the past two months, another five people have died from dengue, raising the deaths toll to 12 this year, compared to 20 people last year. 

There are now 176 active dengue clusters in Singapore and expected to rise high.

The dominant dengue serotype to DenV-3, which was last dominant about 30 years ago has changed its serotype probably due to increasing herd immunity. There are four dengue serotypes in Singapore. 

The NEA reports a five-fold increase in the incidence of Aedes mosquito larvae detected in homes and common corridors in residential areas during the two-month circuit breaker period compared to the two months prior.

The agency has been trying to reduce the mosquito population by releasing sterile male mosquitoes at key hot spots across Singapore so that eggs laid by female mosquitoes they mate with would not hatch.

NEA plans to distribute about 300,000 bottles of repellent at general practitioner clinics and polyclinics.