NEWS FLASH - Authorities to step up anti-dengue enforcement measures

SINGAPORE:
Authorities here will step up enforcement measures like imposing fines, if Singaporeans do not stop breeding mosquitoes in their homes.

Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said this on Friday as Singapore and Cuba signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fight dengue.

Singaporeans, he said, are the weakest link in the fight against dengue and they need to change their attitude towards the disease.

"It is basically the role of Singaporeans, which we say is the weakest link. We have to change our behaviour. Look at the Bukit Batok cases. What is the most revealing about the incident is that you have indoor breeding. What it shows is that Singaporeans are becoming too relaxed. I think we have to change that entirely.......whether it's a cool month or a hot month, we have to be vigilant," Dr Yaacob said.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) says that 3,820 homes have been fined for breeding mosquitoes as at the end of August. Nine were repeat offenders.

{ News extract dated 14 Sept 2007, Fri from Channel NewsAsia }