Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SINGAPORE36
2009-01-14 06:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
SINGAPORE: LOCAL CHIKUNGUNYA CASES ON THE RISE
how-toVZCZCXRO6225 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGP #0036 0140632 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 140632Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6232 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000036
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: LOCAL CHIKUNGUNYA CASES ON THE RISE
REF: 08 SINGAPORE 925
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000036
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: LOCAL CHIKUNGUNYA CASES ON THE RISE
REF: 08 SINGAPORE 925
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recorded 689 cases of
chikungunya in Singapore as of January 7, 2009, and 513 of those
cases were contracted locally, TAN Boon Hian, MOH Public Health
Officer in the Surveillance and Response Branch of the Disease
Control Unit, told Econoff January 13. This is a sharp increase in
local chikungunya infections since MOH identified the first local
cases in January 2008. MOH designated chikungunya as a "notifiable"
disease on December 19, requiring healthcare professionals to report
cases to MOH within 24 hours. MOH instituted the measure to better
monitor the spread of the disease and determine whether it has
become endemic.
2. (SBU) Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease that presents
symptoms similar to dengue fever, first appeared in Singapore in
2006. However, all of those cases were thought to have been
contracted abroad until a cluster of 13 local cases was identified
in January last year. In the last six months in particular there
has been sustained indigenous transmission of chikungunya. Still,
Tan said it will take several more years of studying the disease to
determine whether it has actually become endemic to Singapore.
Other countries have endured chikungunya outbreaks only to have the
disease disappear for several years, so MOH is watching to see
whether the same pattern will hold for Singapore, Tan stated. There
have been no chikungunya deaths in Singapore to date.
3. (SBU) The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been actively
working to control the spread of the disease by destroying mosquito
breeding areas. Tan said that in the past NEA's focus has been on
eradicating the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries dengue fever,
but recent data indicate that it is actually the Aedes albopictus
mosquito that carries chikungunya. NEA has noted that the Aedes
albopictus typically breeds in heavily vegetated areas, making it
more difficult to find and destroy breeding areas. The GOS has
issued statements to raise public awareness of the disease, its
symptoms, and how to avoid infection (e.g., by avoiding certain
areas and wearing long sleeves). The Regional Emerging Diseases
Intervention (REDI) Center is planning an international meeting on
chikungunya for healthcare professionals in March or April.
HERBOLD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO ECON SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: LOCAL CHIKUNGUNYA CASES ON THE RISE
REF: 08 SINGAPORE 925
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recorded 689 cases of
chikungunya in Singapore as of January 7, 2009, and 513 of those
cases were contracted locally, TAN Boon Hian, MOH Public Health
Officer in the Surveillance and Response Branch of the Disease
Control Unit, told Econoff January 13. This is a sharp increase in
local chikungunya infections since MOH identified the first local
cases in January 2008. MOH designated chikungunya as a "notifiable"
disease on December 19, requiring healthcare professionals to report
cases to MOH within 24 hours. MOH instituted the measure to better
monitor the spread of the disease and determine whether it has
become endemic.
2. (SBU) Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease that presents
symptoms similar to dengue fever, first appeared in Singapore in
2006. However, all of those cases were thought to have been
contracted abroad until a cluster of 13 local cases was identified
in January last year. In the last six months in particular there
has been sustained indigenous transmission of chikungunya. Still,
Tan said it will take several more years of studying the disease to
determine whether it has actually become endemic to Singapore.
Other countries have endured chikungunya outbreaks only to have the
disease disappear for several years, so MOH is watching to see
whether the same pattern will hold for Singapore, Tan stated. There
have been no chikungunya deaths in Singapore to date.
3. (SBU) The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been actively
working to control the spread of the disease by destroying mosquito
breeding areas. Tan said that in the past NEA's focus has been on
eradicating the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries dengue fever,
but recent data indicate that it is actually the Aedes albopictus
mosquito that carries chikungunya. NEA has noted that the Aedes
albopictus typically breeds in heavily vegetated areas, making it
more difficult to find and destroy breeding areas. The GOS has
issued statements to raise public awareness of the disease, its
symptoms, and how to avoid infection (e.g., by avoiding certain
areas and wearing long sleeves). The Regional Emerging Diseases
Intervention (REDI) Center is planning an international meeting on
chikungunya for healthcare professionals in March or April.
HERBOLD