Across Singapore, mosquito-collection devices known as Gravitraps are in action.
The traps gather data on the distribution of mosquitoes and their density, which is then feeded into forecasting models that can provide early warnings of outbreaks and where resources need to be deployed.
“You use deadly traps to capture mosquitoes so you can study them,” explained Professor Malavige.
“To understand, okay, is their competence of transmitting dengue getting better? Do you see certain adaptations within the mosquito itself that makes it better in transmitting? Is it adapting better to climate change?”
Data collection is often a big challenge for countries facing dengue outbreaks, because cases often aren’t recorded, but Singapore is working on a solution for this too.
At different times different clinics are funded by the government to test all patients for dengue.
Each time a doctor diagnoses a case, they must immediately inform the Ministry of Health.
“Singapore is definitely getting better data than many other countries, if not all the other countries in the region,” said Professor Eng Eong Ooi.
“In terms of the control programme, it is arguably the best in the world.”
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