Dengue cases in Singapore low but increasing, numbers may rise further with dengue strain change
Singapore is experiencing a shift in the dominant dengue serotype, which experts warn could lead to an increase in infections. While current case numbers remain low, the change in strain often precedes a spike in disease transmission.
Why it matters
Understanding viral serotype shifts is critical for public health preparedness and managing mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.
SINGAPORE — While dengue numbers in Singapore remain low, a change in the dominant serotype could point to increasing infections here, said experts.
According to data from the National Environment Agency (NEA), there were 1,180 reported cases of dengue here in the first half of 2026 – 54 per cent down from the 2,583 cases over the same period in 2025.
Dengue cases in Singapore have fallen in recent years, amid an expansion of Project Wolbachia – an initiative to control the Aedes mosquito population here.
However, infections have been creeping up with the country experiencing peak dengue season, which runs from May to October.
There were 770 dengue cases recorded between April and June, an 87.8 per cent increase from the 410 seen in the first quarter of the year.
This comes amid a change in the predominant dengue serotype in the Republic.
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