MOSQUITO BREEDING IN SINGAPORE

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani asked the Minister for the Environment how serious is the problem of mosquito breeding in Singapore; what steps have been taken to eradicate it; and how effective are they.

The Minister for the Environment (Dr Ahmad Mattar): Mr Speaker, Sir, many houses in Singapore are still breeding the Aedes mosquitoes despite intensive public health education and widespread publicity on the dangers of the Aedes mosquitoes and the deadly disease that these mosquitoes can transmit.

The Aedes mosquito breeds in homes, in clean stagnant water under shade. Unless everyone makes an effort to prevent breedings in his or her home, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to bring down the number of dengue fever cases in Singapore.

In 1991, Sir, a total of 7,273 breedings were detected in houses and other buildings.

My Ministry will continue to use public education as its main strategy to overcome the problem. Public Health Inspectors will step up home visits to check and advise occupants on the measures they should take to prevent breedings. Those who continue to breed mosquitoes in their homes will be given summonses.

Mr Chin Harn Tong (Aljunied GRC): Sir, besides Aedes mosquitoes, are there other types of mosquitoes in Singapore which are equally harmful?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Sir, besides Aedes mosquitoes, the other most common specie of mosquito found in Singapore is the Culex. But unlike the Aedes mosquito, the Culex mosquito only breeds in polluted waters, such as in choked drains and ground puddles. For the benefit of the Member for Aljunied GRC, Culex mosquitoes can transmit filariasis, a disease that causes fever, cough, asthmatic attacks and swelling of the limbs. But unlike dengue fever, Sir, filariasis is not fatal. This I have been told by doctors in my Ministry. Therefore, Culex is termed a nuisance mosquito because of the itch and irritation it causes when it bites.