This is a full version of NEA’s reply issued to the media agency; published in Lianhe Zaobao, 27 Jul 2020.
NEA takes firm actions in home inspections, as provided under the law
We thank Mr Zhang Zuncheng for his feedback (‘Empty houses are loopholes in fight against dengue’, 16 Jul 2020)
The National Environment Agency (NEA) takes a systematic and holistic approach to arrest dengue transmission in Singapore, including gravitrap surveillance, regular inspections of premises for potential breeding sites, as well as the conduct of larviciding, fogging and misting operations.
For premises which our officers are unable to gain access to, a letter will be served to the owner or occupier to arrange for another date to inspect the unit. While most residents understand the danger of dengue transmission and have been cooperative in facilitating our home inspections, there are instances when our NEA officers are unable to gain access to residential premises. If NEA officers are unable to access the premises after repeated attempts, and where urgent vector control is necessary, a legal notice under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act (CVPA) will be served to the occupiers, requiring them to open up their homes for inspection at a specified date and time. Between January and June this year, NEA issued more than 10,300 legal notices to homeowners/ occupiers to make their premises available for inspection and vector control. Thus far, the majority of those who received the legal notices have responded swiftly, and NEA has been able to access the units for inspection. In cases where premises continue to remain inaccessible or are vacant, NEA may need to gain entry by force after serving the legal notices, to ensure that any mosquito breeding habitats are quickly found and destroyed.
On the feedback received, NEA officers visited the vacant premises on 24 June 2020 after receiving feedback, but were unable to gain entry. A letter was served to the owner, to arrange for another date to inspect the unit. Subsequently, the owner, through his property agent, responded and the premises was inspected on 11 July 2020. No mosquito breeding was detected and the housekeeping of the premises was observed to be in satisfactory condition.
Through our extensive outreach and public communication efforts over the years, and the support of grassroots organisations, most residents understand the danger of dengue transmission and have been cooperative in facilitating our home inspections. With the escalating number of dengue cases, we strongly urge all owners of premises and occupiers to immediately take proactive measures such as spraying insecticide in dark corners of their homes, applying mosquito repellent regularly, and wearing long-sleeve tops and long pants to protect themselves from mosquito bites. They should also Do the Mozzie Wipeout, to remove any stagnant water in their immediate surroundings and destroy any mosquito breeding habitats found, to help break the cycle of dengue transmission as quickly as possible. There are simple and proactive things that residents can do to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Tony Teo (Mr)
Director, Environmental Public Health Operations Department
National Environment Agency
张明顺,环境卫生行动署 署长