July 13, 2015: Online messages were circulated around warning about consuming raw fish bought from hawker centres as it may lead to bacterial infection.

Within the same day, the Ministry of Health issued a clarification on Facebook saying that there is no proven link between eating fish, raw or otherwise, and Group B streptococcus (GBS) disease here.

July 15, 2015: Two days later, MOH and various agencies are apparently investigating the increase in cases of Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection, which have been linked with the consumption of raw fish, at least according to MOH in responses to queries from Channel News Asia,

This is because one of the larger hospitals in Singapore saw an average of about 53 cases of GBS infection each year in the past five years, with a range of 31 to 73 cases a year. However, it has treated about 76 cases so far this year and in 10 of these cases, recent consumption of raw fish was reported.

"Investigations are ongoing as to the reason(s) for the increase in cases," the ministry added.

One issue, though, is the under-reporting of cases as it is not compulsory for doctors to report cases of GBS infection, unlike more serious diseases, like tuberculosis. Private hospitals have not disclosed how many cases they have seen.

Verdict, as per the CNA article quoting Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital: Very few people in Singapore are falling sick because of this when viewed from a population-wide context, and only the truly already ill will risk fatalities.

Therefore, risk of eating raw fish and dying from it is still lower than jaywalking.

Good assessment.

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