SINGAPORE: If there’s one factor Bob Wong, a resident of Woodsvale condominium in Woodlands desires individuals to know, it is that the fight in opposition to dengue is not nearly particular person efforts.
The 48-year-old and father of two, who moved to Singapore from Hong Kong in 2007, performs his half to shield his group from dengue.
For one, he has been a part of his condominium’s MCST for the final 5 years, guaranteeing his officers “do their part” to look after widespread areas.
“Protecting your family members is a basic responsibility, but as a whole, of course we don’t want (dengue) to bother our neighbours as well,” stated Mr Wong throughout inspection and vector management operations on Saturday (May 14) at his condominium.
“Everybody plays a part. It’s not just about myself.”
“SERIOUS DENGUE SITUATION”
Singapore is at present going through a “serious dengue situation”, with dengue instances persevering with to rise “sharply”, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a media factsheet on Saturday.
A “high” of 1,055 dengue instances have been reported this week as of Friday. And greater than 8,000 instances have been reported this 12 months to date, exceeding the full 5,258 instances reported in 2021.
“This is worrying, because we have not even gone into the traditional peak season between June to October, where dengue (cases) tend to be a bit higher as well,” stated Minister of State for Home Affairs and Sustainability and the Environment, Desmond Tan, on Saturday.
Moreover, 280 energetic dengue clusters have been reported as of Friday, up from 196 clusters at end-April, said NEA.
For occasion, one of the highest 5 largest dengue clusters positioned across the Mount Sinai space off Holland Road uncovered 305 instances of dengue, with 11 premises detected with a number of breeding habitats throughout a single inspection and one premise detected with repeat breeding throughout re-inspection.
“In order to deal with this situation, NEA as well as our community partners, grassroot leaders and organisations have been stepping up the vector control operations, focusing mainly on raising awareness and vigilance among our residents,” added Mr Tan.
“(It’s) also to deal with the breeding in various areas – residential homes as well as common areas in places whether in the housing estates or even the construction sites.”
With such partnership among the many group, the variety of energetic clusters has been lowered by “about 70 per cent since the start of the year”, famous Mr Tan.
“At the same time, NEA also realised in the inspection that a lot of these breeding sites are actually happening in the residential homes. About 60 per cent of them are in residential homes,” he added.
For households discovered with repeat mosquito breeding offences and a number of mosquito breeding habitats, offenders could face a nice of up to S$5,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or each. Repeat offenders can be given heftier penalties.
MISTING, PIPING OF OIL, CHECKING FLOWERPOTS
Reporters have been proven on Saturday how Woodsvale condominium works with residents to stop the unfold of dengue.
“Once we (had) the first case, we started to increase the misting in the estate and stepped up on oiling … (inspecting) all the drains, and all the keyholes,” stated 47-year-old condominium supervisor Derrick Oh.so
“We try to detect it as soon as possible for water ponding issues. Because where there’s water, there’s surely mosquitoes,”
He shared that their condominium is a part of a cluster with greater than 90 dengue instances at present.
On Saturday, pest management inspectors demonstrated a number of dengue prevention measures, akin to piping oil into the insides of drains. The oil types a layer to suffocate the mosquito larvae.
They additionally used duct tape to cowl keyholes on drain covers the place water may accumulate, and checked the flower pots at residents’ houses on the bottom flooring.
Reporters have been additionally proven the condominium’s rooftop, the place BTI (bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) pesticide was scattered to kill larvae, and the water tank is sealed up to stop breeding.
Mr Oh additionally understands that some residents truly breed mosquitoes of their houses.
“So we tried to reach out to them by giving them the pamphlets, talking to them, or even putting the notices at common areas, like lift lobbies,” he stated, and added that funding for dengue prevention has “slightly increased” this 12 months.
“We also work with NEA to give residents insect repellants, flyers, to ensure everybody is safe. We don’t want anybody to get dengue. … Because we have quite a number of elderly residents here.”
According to NEA, residents are inspired to frequently practise the “Mozzie Wipeout BLOCK” steps: Break up hardened soil; raise and empty flowerpot plates; overturn pails and wipe their rims; change water in vases; and preserve roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide inside.
Those who stay in dengue cluster areas ought to take extra precautionary measures. This contains spraying insecticide in darkish corners round the home, making use of insect repellent frequently, and carrying long-sleeve tops and lengthy pants, stated NEA.
DENGUE PREVENTION IS “BASIC LOGIC”
On the person’s half, dengue safety is primarily “common sense”, stated condominium resident Mr Wong.
“I would say (it goes) back to basic logic. Dengue is about stagnant water, having mosquitoes grow from there. Keep ensuring there’s no stagnant water anywhere, starting from your bathroom, your kitchen, all the way.”
Mr Wong additionally takes “preemptive actions” to stop stagnant water from gathering in any respect, akin to together with his drainage system in his kitchen which routinely drains water after he washes his dishes.
Still, he “definitely worries” about getting dengue.
“No one wants to get hit by dengue. We don’t want yourself or your family members to get dengue; you don’t even want dengue to be at your neighbour’s. … But it’s not about what I can do. I can only do my part. I can make sure (in) my home, everything is done properly,” he stated.
“But again, fighting dengue is not rocket science anyway. … Water is not a problem. … Stagnant water is the problem.”
Source : channelnewsasia.com
