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SINGAPORE : Twenty-eight new cases of chikungunya fever have been detected since the last update on August 25.
A joint statement from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Health Ministry said 16 of the new cases were imported.
Eight of the imported cases are Singaporeans. Among this group, seven had travelled to Malaysia and one to the Maldives. Among the foreigners, seven are Malaysians and one is an Indonesian.
Out of the 12 local cases, 11 are linked to existing clusters. Of these, four come from the Kranji Way cluster, one from Lim Chu Kang and the remaining six from the Sungei Kadut cluster.
An additional sporadic case is a 28-year-old general worker who stays at Mandai Estate and has no fixed work site. He also has no recent overseas travel history.
NEA said mosquito control remains the primary measure to prevent the spread of chikungunya fever.
It has deployed 13 officers to carry out mosquito control operations in the Mandai Estate area. Mosquito breeding sites have been detected and destroyed in 10 out over 85 premises inspected.
In the Lim Chu Kang farm areas, NEA said it has deployed as many as 22 officers daily to conduct inspections. It has so far detected and destroyed more than 77 mosquito breeding habitats in the farms.
It has also extended its checks to cover nearby vacant lands and forested areas.
Preventive measures such as oiling and larviciding are also carried out to rid the areas of potential breeding habitats.
NEA said fogging operations remains a last resort to mosquito control and are used in selected areas where the adult mosquito population is high.
It added that visitors and workers in the affected areas should take the necessary precautions as the predominant species of Aedes mosquitoes in those areas tend to favour outdoor habitats.
As of Thursday, a total of 178 cases was reported this year.
The Health Ministry said those who develop symptoms of chikungunya - which include fever, joint pain and rashes - should consult their doctors immediately. - CNA/ms
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