A 20-year-old Singaporean Chinese has become the first person to die of dengue in the current epidemic in Singapore. The news of the death first broke on the Facebook page of Cuesports Singapore, a national sports association (NSA). It identified the man as Mr Ang Yong Han, a competitive pool player.
In a joint statement released on Thursday evening, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said they have been notified of the death of a dengue patient who lived at Hougang Avenue 1. They said this is the first dengue death case this year and it highlights the urgency for greater community vigilance to stamp out possible mosquito-breeding spots.
Mr Ang was seen at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s (TTSH) Emergency Department (ED) on 23 May and diagnosed as having viral fever, said the statement. His condition was reported to be stable and he was discharged with advice to return to the ED if his symptoms worsened.
He was also asked to visit an outpatient clinic for follow up and a repeat blood test. Mr Ang subsequently returned to TTSH’s ED on 26 May and was admitted as a dengue case. His condition worsened despite the aggressive blood transfusion treatment, organ systems support and close monitoring, said a TTSH statement. Mr Ang died from Dengue Shock Syndrome on 29 May.
Family members of Mr Ang told reporters that his death was sudden, because he died just a few days after being admitted. They said that his blood platelet count dropped to a dangerously low level in a matter of days. Questions still remain on their minds as to how his illness was not detected earlier.
Those who knew Mr Ang said his future as an athlete was bright. As a pool player, he had just joined the national training squad. Mr Aaron Koh, who is in charge of the players at Cuesports Singapore, said: “I think it’s a great loss for the pool community because character-wise he’s a very nice guy and of course he had the potential to be one of the top players in Singapore.”
NEA is conducting thorough vector control operations at the vicinity of Mr Ang’s residence in Hougang, which is a dengue cluster.
Singapore is currently in the midst of a dengue fever outbreak.
So far, more than 8,000 people have come down with the viral infection that is spread by the Aedes mosquito.
The authorities urge residents to cooperate fully with NEA inspectors conducting ground operations. They also strongly encourage all Singaporeans to take appropriate precautions to prevent mosquito breeding by doing the Mozzie Wipeout weekly.
More details on the Mozzie Wipeout can be found at www.dengue.gov.sg.
Report from Channel NewsAsia
Please all Singaporean, we are in a humid country that mosquito breed. Do help out and prevent mosquito breeding, dengue or not, mosquitos are bad anyways. Watch how to do the Mozzie Wipeout.
