MOH to conduct DNA tests to see if these are
related to cluster of six cases in same block
Two more
people are feared to have contracted tuberculosis in an Ang Mo Kio block where
six drug-resistant cases have already been identified.
The
Ministry of Health (MOH) said yesterday that the two suspected active cases,
which are potentially infectious, are currently "being followed up for
treatment, monitoring, and contact tracing".
The
ministry will also carry out DNA tests to see if they are related to the
cluster of six cases, although "this may take some time".
In what
it described as a "highly unusual occurrence", six people in Block
203, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, were diagnosed with the same strain of
multi-drug-resistant TB over a four-year period.
The four
households involved said they did not know each other and had not interacted.
The disease typically requires "close and prolonged contact" to
spread.
The
discovery triggered a four- day precautionary screening exercise at the foot of
the block to pick up undiagnosed cases. This ended on June 19, though a second
round of house visits to encourage more people to get tested was held last
Saturday. During the visits, MOH officers offered to collect blood samples to
make testing more convenient for residents.
A total
of 223 residents and former residents were tested in the first round. An
estimated 350 people live in the block.
In
addition to the two new suspected cases, another 45 people were found to
potentially have a latent form of the disease. This means that they have no
symptoms and cannot spread TB.
Tests
also picked up three people who previously had TB, but had already completed
treatment. These were not related to the drug-resistant cluster, MOH said. The
ministry is following up with nine people who completed only part of the
screening, which involves both an X-ray and a blood test.
MOH added
yesterday that those who may have latent TB have been advised to monitor
themselves for symptoms. Tan Tock Seng Hospital's TB Control Unit will check up
on them every six months for the next two years.
"Treatment
may be offered on a case-by-case basis after assessment by the TB Control
Unit," it said, adding that four people in this group have started
treatment.
Latent TB
is not uncommon among Singaporeans. It affects only 2 per cent of people aged
18 to 29, but nearly 30 per cent of those aged between 70 and 79.
MOH said
the baseline prevalence of TB in the affected block is expected to be up to 23
per cent, after considering factors such as its demographic profile. "The
rate of latent TB among those who were screened on-site... is about 22 per
cent, within the upper end of the expected baseline prevalence range."
Screening
results from another 12 people who got their tests done at Sata CommHealth
clinics, as well as those who were screened last Saturday, are still pending.
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