A 21-year-old man has been killed by Dengue fever recently in Singapore, in the first death case resulting from the disease this year in the city state, local media reported on Thursday, quoting authorities. The young man developed symptoms such as sudden onset of fever and fatigue before being hospitalized. He died on Wednesday, Xinhua reported. Singapore is currently in the midst of a dengue fever outbreak. By May 30, a total of 8,001 cases have been reported this year, significantly higher than the numbers reported in 2012 or 2011. Dengue fever is an illness caused by infection with a virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, with the symptoms including fever, fatigue as well as joint and muscle pains. There are four serotypes of the virus normally seen in Singapore. There is currently no effective drug for Dengue. An outbreak in Singapore in 2005 led to about 14,000 infections and 25 deaths. Another outbreak in 2007, resulting from the spread of a different serotype, led to 8,826 infections. Authorities have been carrying out a campaign to kill mosquitoes to cut the spread of dengue fever.
