By MP for Aljunied GRC, Sylvia Lim
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 12 March 2013]
Singapore is currently subject to another onslaught of the dengue virus. It seems that the current dengue outbreak has peaked at an unusual time of year – at end 2012 and the start of 2013, rather than the usual July-August periods of the past. The affected areas appear to be mostly in the eastern and north-eastern sectors of Singapore, including residential estates in the Yio Chu Kang and Serangoon area.
I would first like to acknowledge the tireless efforts by the teams at the National Environment Agency (NEA) in their outreach and enforcement efforts, going door to door in their inspections and public education. NEA has also collaborated with Aljunied-Hougang Town Council and our MPs regularly in responding to the dengue situation.
NEA’s work in surveillance, public education and enforcement are well-known. However, according to the NEA’s dengue website (www.dengue.gov.sg), one of the key thrusts of its approach to dengue includes research. I understand that NEA has been active in research under the auspices of its Environmental Health Institute. In 2011, the EHI has been recognized by the World Health Organisation as a global centre for reference and research.
Research is critical to improve the current treatment responses, as there is no drug to treat or prevent dengue yet. Sufferers have to wait for the disease to play out and be “treated” via fluid replacement.
It was reported that last year, a team of researchers from our university medical schools and the Defence Science Organisation laboratories managed to discover a human anti-body which may have the potential of limiting the damage caused by the dengue virus serotype 1 while inside the human body.
Does NEA collaborate with such external agencies to synergise its research efforts, especially regarding prevention and treatment responses? What are its current research priorities concerning dengue generally? A breakthrough in research may finally remove the impotence with which those affected by dengue meet their fates.
