Singapore - The diagnosis of more than 650 dengue cases in Singapore so far this year prompted environmental officials Wednesday to remind the public of a continuing high alert. The figure is nearly twice the number for the corresponding period last year.
At least 10 of the 2008 victims have come down with dengue haemorrhagic fever, the more serious form of the disease, said the Health Ministry.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) told The Straits Times Singapore might be emerging from a lull between epidemic cycles and entering a new cycle.
Last year started with a low number. By mid-year, the weekly numbers hit epidemic levels several times, more than 378 cases a week, a breakdown showed.
By the end of last year, 8,826 people had come down with the Aedes mosquito-carrying disease. Twenty had died.
A new type of dengue, "Den 2," is still in circulation, officials warned.
The public was reminded to remove all containers and clean out other spots where water stagnates and the mosqutoes breed.
