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  Channel NewsAsia 26 Jun 07
Hotter weather may have contributed to increase in dengue cases

SINGAPORE: The recent spell of hotter weather in Singapore may have contributed to the increase in dengue cases across the island, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).

It said that along with intermittent rainfall, hot weather provides the perfect condition for the Aedes mosquito to breed. The NEA said temperatures last week (19-25 June) hit 28.6 degrees Celsius, higher than the average normally registered for June and about one degree more than last year.

While this suits the Aedes mosquitoes just fine, it is bad news for Singapore's fight against dengue.

"At higher temperatures of the optimal temperatures of about 30 degrees Celsius, you do get the female mosquito maturing faster. And they can complete their life cycle development in about seven days. They also bite more frequently," said Dr Christina Liew, Senior Research Scientist, Environmental Health Institute, NEA.

The intermittent rainfall these few days is not helping either. It creates more breeding sites for the Aedes mosquito, which now has more nooks and corners to lay her eggs in.

"At 30 degrees Celsius, more females than males are produced - at a ratio of four to three. So again at higher temperatures, you're getting more females out there which can bite people and transmit dengue. This could again explain why our mosquito population is thriving in these hotter temperatures," said Dr Liew.

The NEA has already increased manpower from 500 to 800 officers to carry out checks since May this year. It is also working closely with General Practitioners to send blood samples of suspected dengue patients for testing. The hotter weather is expected to continue into the next few months. - CNA/yy
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