BREEDING OF AEDES MOSQUITOES IN PREMISES (Percentage)

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani asked the Minister for the Environment what percentage of premises checked for various types of mosquitoes were found to be breeding Aedes mosquitoes from 1995 up to the latest available date and what action is being taken by his Ministry.

The Minister for the Environment (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Sir, landed properties, flats, vacant premises and school compounds have all registered an increase over the last two years in the number of occasions when Aedes mosquitoes were found breeding.

For the six months of this year, my Ministry staff checked almost 95,000 homes. Of these, 1,150 or 1.2% were found breeding Aedes, compared to 0.7% in 1995 and 1% last year.

Although the overall incidence of 1.2% appears low, the percentage of homes found breeding Aedes has gone up to as high as 8% in certain neighbourhoods. The threshold for residential premises beyond which an epidemic is likely is 5%.

Out of the 196 schools checked this year, 53 or 27% were found to be breeding Aedes, compared to 19.9% in 1995, and 20.5% last year. Breedings detected in construction sites also remain high. Out of the 5,320 sites checked this year, 440 or 8.3% had breedings detected, compared to 9% in 1995 and 8.2% last year.

Another major source of Aedes breeding is litter, for example, discarded drink cans and bottles. In the first four months of this year, Aedes mosquitoes were found breeding inside about 1,300 discarded receptacles.

The increased breeding of Aedes mosquitoes in Singapore has led to an increase in the number of dengue cases. In the last six months, we have seen an average of 283 cases per month, compared to 260 cases per month last year, and 167 cases per month in 1995.

Since eradication of the Aedes mosquito is the key to solving the dengue problem, my Ministry has conducted a number of surveys over the past few years to test public awareness. The surveys showed that the public generally understands the danger of dengue fever and also knows what causes it. They also know about the Aedes mosquito and the measures to take to prevent it from breeding.

Unfortunately, there are still many who do not make the effort to check their work sites, premises or homes and take the necessary corrective measures. My Ministry will continue to take enforcement action against those who breed the Aedes mosquito in their homes or premises under their charge. This year alone, my Ministry has issued stop-work orders to 100 work sites for them to spruce up the work sites and eliminate all potential mosquito breeding grounds. With effect from June this year, contractors who persist in flouting environmental laws and requirements run the risk of being debarred from tendering for any Government construction projects. My Ministry will also consider tougher penalties against households and other premises, if necessary.

We will also continue with efforts to educate the public, and to remind Singaporeans of the need to translate their high level of awareness into individual responsibility and action. So long as the Aedes mosquito can find places to breed, the threat of dengue will always remain. We will need the support of every Singaporean to stamp out the Aedes problem. We must take dengue fever seriously and collectively act against it.

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani (Hong Kah): I wonder why the percentage of the schools found breeding Aedes is very high, at 27%. It is also high in construction sites. The reason given by the Minister just now was because of the litter. But why is Aedes breeding in the schools very high, compared to other premises?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, in the school grounds, breeding takes place in the drains and in various receptacles, sometimes even in the hollows of the trees. The schools have pesticide contractors to maintain the school grounds. And we have reminded the school principals that whilst they have the contractors, it is still their responsibility to conduct inspections of their school grounds and ensure that their school grounds are free of breeding sites.

Encik Harun bin A. Ghani: It seems, Mr Minister, that our children are at risk of contracting dengue fever.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, that is why we have been working with the principals. In fact, we have been issuing summonses to principals whose schools are found to be breeding mosquitoes, and we will continue to conduct regular inspections of schools, especially since there are many school children who are susceptible to dengue fever.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: Sir, I did not realise that this is such a serious problem. What has the Ministry done by way of publicity on this issue, besides taking enforcement action?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the Ministry has been regularly carrying out various programmes of public education. For example, we use the mass media, ie, the newspapers and TV. We do have campaigns conducted periodically through the TV as well. The key really is to make sure that we reach out to the households and we do it through the schools as well. The Ministry produces quite a large number of different pamphlets and these are distributed to school children for them to bring home to show their parents. The pamphlets would normally describe the dangers of dengue fever, what causes it and what the households should be doing to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. And for those neighbourhoods where there is a high incidence of Aedes mosquitoes, my Ministry staff actually do a house-to-house delivery of leaflets to inform the people living in the neighbourhood that there has been a high incidence of Aedes mosquitoes and dengue fever and to encourage them to play their individual part in checking their homes, their grounds and roof gutters. For example, many of the homes in the landed property districts have roof gutters which, because of old age, are sagging and therefore could lead to ponding or they could be clogged up by leaves. So we carry out all these public education programmes very regularly.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister what are the enforcement programmes against households that are not occupied, especially newly allocated households in HDB flats. The reason why I ask this is that, in my constituency, there are a lot of new HDB households and mosquitoes are breeding in the toilet bowls. But these flats are locked up and so nobody can carry out any action against them.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, unfortunately, we do not have the powers to break down the door and inspect the premises if they are locked up. But what we try to do is to make sure that the contractors are also educated. When they finish work in the new homes, they should cover the toilet bowls as well as the gully traps so that they can help to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen: What happens in the interim period before the contractors were given permission to start on the renovations? In other words, when the home owners have got their flats but before anyone has access to the flat, mosquitoes are breeding inside the flats and the neighbours who have already moved in are suffering from mosquito infestation.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: That is why I said, Sir, because of the problem of mosquito breeding in construction sites, we actually have a very active programme of educating construction company staff and workers on how to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, ie, watching out for receptacles that are collecting water and making sure that the sites are kept debris-free as far as possible. And this includes the premises which have been completed but before they are handed over. They should make sure that all the receptacles are closed up and the gully traps are covered.

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam (Non-Constituency Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, as I understand from the Minister, in schools the task of controlling breeding of Aedes mosquitoes or other mosquitoes is left to the schools. May I ask why is his Ministry not undertaking this task?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, the maintenance of schools comes under the Ministry of Education and PWD and they decide on how they want to maintain the schools, eg, looking after the sports facilities, the field and all the other assets of the school. Pest control is not just for mosquitoes. There are other insects that need to be controlled and they are all normally undertaken by pest control companies. So the PWD and MOE have decided, quite wisely, that this is a fairly specialised job which should be contracted out to specialists, ie, pest control companies.

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Sembawang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to appeal to the Minister to reconsider imposing a debarment on contractors who breach the rules on mosquito breeding. Presently, enforcement action has been taken against contractors. Many worksites have been receiving summonses and I think that has increased the cost of construction ---

Mr Speaker: Dr Teo, we have already finished this question. Why are you asking it again? I am sorry you are out of order.