The National Environment Agency (NEA) will begin mosquito control operations at a potential new Zika cluster at Bedok North Avenue 3, it announced at a joint briefing with the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (Aug 31). There are 115 confirmed locally transmitted Zika infections in Singapore, including the first pregnant woman to be diagnosed with the virus.
The agency noted that vector control remains the mainstay in reducing the spread of Zika in Singapore. In a media statement, NEA said: “Our efforts will extend to other parts of Singapore. The National Environment Agency will be stepping up its vector control efforts to wider areas.”
The potential new cluster at Bedok North Avenue 3 was identified after three cases were reported on Tuesday. One case has a link to Kallang Way, which is in the existing cluster, but the other two have no known links to the Sims Drive/Aljunied Crescent cluster, which suggests a possible new cluster, said authorities.
The cluster comprises more than 6,000 premises, according to NEA. It called for residents to cooperate fully with NEA and allow its officers to inspect their premises for mosquito breeding and to spray insecticide to kill any mosquitoes.
NEA added that to ensure any breeding habitats are destroyed quickly, it may need use force to enter premises inaccessible to its officers after serving notice on the owners.
OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE AT SIMS/ALJUNIED CLUSTER
It added that it is continuing with vector control operations in the Sims Drive/Aljunied Crescent cluster, which now covers about 7,000 premises in Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Paya Lebar Way and Kallang Way.
It added that NEA officers have inspected about 5,500 premises in the cluster. 45 breeding spots – comprising 26 in homes and 19 in common areas and other premises – have been found and destroyed.
NEA said it has also served notices on more than 500 premises that were inaccessible to its officers. Owners of these premises are required to contact NEA to arrange for an inspection, failing which NEA will proceed with forced entry.
The agency added that between Aug 27 and 30, it has deployed more than 300 personnel per day to the cluster to carry out vector control operations and outreach efforts. These comprise NEA officers, contractors and volunteers.
NEA officers and grassroots volunteers have completed two rounds of outreach efforts to distribute Zika information leaflets in the cluster, it added. They have also commenced outreach in the expanded cluster areas in Paya Lebar Way and Kallang Way.
“We will continue with outreach to raise general awareness of Zika, reiterate the need for source reduction to prevent mosquito breeding and advise residents to apply repellent as a precaution,” said NEA in a media statement.
NEA added that it has activated partner agencies of the Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force to step up localised search and destroy efforts in their respective areas to help reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.
“In NEA’s approach to tackling Zika cases, besides conducting checks for mosquito breeding habitats based on Zika cases, we also take a preventive and risk-based approach through pre-emptive checks in areas assessed to be at higher risk, even in the absence of Zika cases. Residents should also do their part to prevent mosquito breeding in their homes,” it said.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia
