As Singapore battles Covid-19, another public health issue has been flying under the radar but its urgency is real.

Singapore in 2020 is possibly experiencing the biggest dengue outbreak to date.

Fourth consecutive week with more than 1,000 cases

The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported 15,272 cases of dengue this year alone as of July 6, 2020.

This is also the fourth consecutive week that the weekly number of reported dengue cases exceeded 1,000.

The total number of cases this year is expected to exceed the 22,170 cases reported in 2013, the largest dengue outbreak in Singapore’s history.

Here's a graph to show the unprecedented steep increase in dengue cases in 2020 as compared to past years:

The situation has become so bad that NEA has, from July 15, increased the penalties against those who have mosquitoes breeding at home, especially for repeated offences.

Hundreds of larvae found in a flower pot at home

NEA highlighted one particular case during a recent inspection.

The inspection officer found hundreds of Aedes mosquito larvae in a huge flower pot in a person's house.

Mosquito breeding was also detected at residential premises located in the Clover Ave, Arnasalam Chetty Road/ Kim Yam Road and Aljunied/ Geylang Road dengue clusters.

The incidence of Aedes mosquito larvae detected in homes and common corridors in residential areas during the circuit breaker period has increased by five times.

You can watch the larvae squirming in the stagnant water collected in the pot here:

Don't let your guards down, here's what to do to prevent mosquito breeding at home:

Top photo via NEA/Facebook screengrab