SINGAPORE — Starting October 31, Singapore will step up surveillance on three potentially deadly infectious diseases that currently lack approved vaccines or antiviral treatments, according to the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA).
Medical practitioners and clinical laboratories will be legally required to report all confirmed and suspected cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Lassa fever, and Marburg virus disease (MVD). These three viral haemorrhagic fevers have been added to the Infectious Diseases Act’s (IDA) list of infectious diseases following amendments made by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in September.
While the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that fatality rates for these conditions can reach up to 50 percent, the CDA stated that the immediate risk level to Singapore remains low. The new reporting mandate aims to enhance early detection, enable swift public health responses such as isolation and contact tracing, and ensure national preparedness.
With the inclusion of CCHF, Lassa fever, and MVD, the number of conditions categorized specifically as "dangerous infectious diseases" under the IDA's Second Schedule rises to eight, joining illnesses such as Ebola, MERS-CoV, plague, SARS, and yellow fever. Existing border control measures, including health declarations and on-arrival medical assessments, will continue to support the detection of incoming risks.