SG Complains

Singapore fines more than 2,000 homeowners for mosquito breeding amid dengue outbreak

According to Herald Tribune:

SINGAPORE: Singapore fined more than 2,700 people who allowed mosquitoes to breed at their homes, as part of efforts to halt a dengue fever outbreak that has sickened thousands, authorities said Tuesday.

From January to June, the city-state fined 2,742 owners of residential premises where mosquitoes were found breeding, the National Environment Agency said.

It was not immediately clear what the fines amounted to. Under Singapore law, first-time offenders are fined 100 Singapore dollars (US$66; €48) and subsequent offenders, S$200 (US$132; €96).

Since June, dengue fever cases have hit or hovered near epidemic levels, with more than 300 infections recorded each week. Singapore defines an epidemic as 378 or more infections a week.

The total number of dengue fever cases recorded in the tropical island-nation so far this year stands at 4,768. The current outbreak has already resulted in three deaths, and leaders say it evokes memories of a 2005 dengue fever epidemic that killed 25 and infected thousands in the country of 4.5 million.

Health officials have been combing public housing estates in search of mosquito breeding sites and to fumigate. Dengue-carrying insects can breed in tiny pools of water found in flower pots, discarded bottles or cans, or old tires.

Authorities say the spike in cases is likely due to warmer weather and the spread of a different strain of the virus. The disease, which causes joint pain, high fever, nausea and a rash, is endemic to the region. In severe cases, it leads to internal bleeding and sometimes death.

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