SINGAPORE: A new strain of the disease called Chikungunya virus, which is transmitted in the same way as dengue by the aedes mosquito, has been detected in Singapore.
The Ministry of Health said that the first case was reported Monday.
The investigation revealed that the patient, 27-year-old foreigner residing on Clive Street, it had contracted locally as a person has not traveled outside Singapore for several months.
All previous cases of chikungunya were reported in Singapore contracted abroad.
Following this report, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Environment Agency (NEA) of the Environmental Health Institute have begun to screen people living or working in the field Clive Street.
So far, investigations have found five other people who chikungunya fever.
They were sent to the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) in Tan Tock Seng Hospital for further medical and two were admitted to isolation.
The Ministry of Health continues its screening of residents and workers in the field of Clive Street chikungunya fever.
NEA also conducts intensive operations to combat mosquitoes in the region and will extend it to the tiny enclave of India in the coming days.
Local residents and owners were asked to check their premises every day to remove any stagnant water that can breed mosquitoes.
The Department of Health said chikungunya, like dengue fever, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes and the best way to prevent chikungunya fever is to take precautionary measures to prevent mosquito breeding.
People infected with chikungunya fever should stay indoors to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus.
The disease is characterized by sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, with or without swelling, and low back pain.
Some patients may develop a rash that affect their body and limbs.
Most symptoms last from three to ten days, but the joint pain can last for weeks or months.
The outbreaks have occurred in recent years in Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean islands.
The Ministry of Health has asked residents or people who work in the affected area to provide relevant information to officials of the Ministry of Health who are currently carrying out epidemiological investigations.
