The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been notified that five people in Singapore have died of dengue so far in 2020, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Monday, April 20, as it warned that the number of infection cases has increased recently.

The five who passed away were between 60 and 80 years, and all resided or worked within dengue cluster areas.

In 2019, 21 dengue deaths were reported to MOH.

The number of dengue cases in 2020 as at mid-April is already almost 5,800.

This is more than double what was reported over the same period in 2019, the NEA said.

Around 300 to 400 cases per week have been on a weekly basis, as the number of dengue cases remain high.

“With the traditional dengue peak season coming up from May to September, the number of dengue cases in 2020 is projected to exceed the 16,000 cases in 2019, unless immediate measures are taken to suppress the Aedes mosquito population,” the NEA said.

The NEA has called for immediate measures to suppress the Aedes mosquito population.

There is an urgent need for stepped-up community action against dengue as more people are working from home during this Covid-19 circuit breaker period.

The NEA said it will be stepping up its inspections of common properties, especially drains, as well as construction sites.

NEA said: “With most people working from home during this circuit breaker period, home owners and occupants are advised to pay more attention to any mosquito breeding at home, take the necessary steps to remove breeding sites, and ensure proper housekeeping.”