SINGAPORE: The majority of people screened for tuberculosis (TB) during screenings conducted by the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) earlier this month in Bedok
A total of 3,169 persons were screened for TB during the screening process from May 2 to May 8 – with 85.1 per cent testing negative.
The remaining 14.9 per cent or 473 individuals have tested positive on their blood test and require a follow-up chest X-ray to determine if they have active TB or latent TB infection (LTBI), the agency said in a press release on Wednesday (May 13).
"The vast majority of these individuals are expected to have LTBI, which means they do not exhibit symptoms of TB, are not infectious, and therefore do not pose a public health risk," CDA said.
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The agency said the positivity rate of 14.9 per cent is within expectations, given the presence of transmission clusters detected at the three locations, and the high proportion of elderly in the area.
The three locations referred to are: Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market and the Singapore Pools Bedok betting centre, where investigations found 13 genetically similar cases across three clusters between January 2023 and February this year.
The screening done by CDA was for tenants, workers and those who frequented these locations.
CDA noted that the latent TB prevalence among all Singapore residents was 12.7 per cent in 2015. The prevalence of LTBI increases with age, ranging from 2 per cent among persons aged between 18 and 29 years old, to 29 per cent among those aged between 70 and 79 years old, it added.
CDA emphasised that a positive blood test result does not mean a person has active TB disease.
"The blood test indicates whether a person has been exposed to the TB bacteria, and a further chest X-ray is needed to determine their actual health status," it said.
"Most are expected to have LTBI, which is not uncommon in Singaporeans."
In 2024, the Ministry of Health (MOH) noted that in about 90 per cent of people who have latent tuberculosis, the bacteria remains inactive in their body throughout their lives.
About 5 per cent of people with latent tuberculosis develop active tuberculosis within the first two years, MOH added.
The remaining 5 per cent may develop active tuberculosis sometime after two years and within their lifetime.
The agency said that of the 3,169 individuals screened, 1,255 were in the "mandatory group" and as of Tuesday, 41 individuals in this group have yet to complete screening or booked an appointment to be screened.
"We urge them to come forward for testing at SATA CommHealth Bedok Clinic or the National Tuberculosis Screening Centre as soon as possible."
CDA said that screening, as well as further tests, will continue to be offered for free until Jun 5, 2026.
It is also contacting people who have tested positive on their blood test to arrange for a chest X-ray appointment. This will be done via phone calls.
Meanwhile, those with negative blood test results will be notified via SMS.
There will be an on-site mobile chest X-ray conducted at Heartbeat@Bedok from May 13 to May 15 for persons with positive blood test results. Those who are unable to attend the on-site mobile chest X-ray can do so at SATA CommHealth.
The agency said that those with normal chest X-ray results will be referred to SATA CommHealth Bedok to commence TB preventive treatment – which is voluntary, with the cost covered by CDA.
Those with an abnormal chest X-ray will be further evaluated at the National Tuberculosis Care Centre and will commence treatment promptly if diagnosed with active TB disease.
CDA said that contact tracing for each active TB disease case will be conducted in accordance with "current contact tracing protocols to identify and evaluate close contacts for screening".
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A total of 3,169 persons were screened for TB during the screening process from May 2 to May 8 – with 85.1 per cent testing negative.
The remaining 14.9 per cent or 473 individuals have tested positive on their blood test and require a follow-up chest X-ray to determine if they have active TB or latent TB infection (LTBI), the agency said in a press release on Wednesday (May 13).
"The vast majority of these individuals are expected to have LTBI, which means they do not exhibit symptoms of TB, are not infectious, and therefore do not pose a public health risk," CDA said.
CNA Games
Show More Show Less
The agency said the positivity rate of 14.9 per cent is within expectations, given the presence of transmission clusters detected at the three locations, and the high proportion of elderly in the area.
The three locations referred to are: Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market and the Singapore Pools Bedok betting centre, where investigations found 13 genetically similar cases across three clusters between January 2023 and February this year.
The screening done by CDA was for tenants, workers and those who frequented these locations.
CDA noted that the latent TB prevalence among all Singapore residents was 12.7 per cent in 2015. The prevalence of LTBI increases with age, ranging from 2 per cent among persons aged between 18 and 29 years old, to 29 per cent among those aged between 70 and 79 years old, it added.
CDA emphasised that a positive blood test result does not mean a person has active TB disease.
"The blood test indicates whether a person has been exposed to the TB bacteria, and a further chest X-ray is needed to determine their actual health status," it said.
"Most are expected to have LTBI, which is not uncommon in Singaporeans."
In 2024, the Ministry of Health (MOH) noted that in about 90 per cent of people who have latent tuberculosis, the bacteria remains inactive in their body throughout their lives.
About 5 per cent of people with latent tuberculosis develop active tuberculosis within the first two years, MOH added.
The remaining 5 per cent may develop active tuberculosis sometime after two years and within their lifetime.
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The agency said that of the 3,169 individuals screened, 1,255 were in the "mandatory group" and as of Tuesday, 41 individuals in this group have yet to complete screening or booked an appointment to be screened.
"We urge them to come forward for testing at SATA CommHealth Bedok Clinic or the National Tuberculosis Screening Centre as soon as possible."
CDA said that screening, as well as further tests, will continue to be offered for free until Jun 5, 2026.
It is also contacting people who have tested positive on their blood test to arrange for a chest X-ray appointment. This will be done via phone calls.
Meanwhile, those with negative blood test results will be notified via SMS.
There will be an on-site mobile chest X-ray conducted at Heartbeat@Bedok from May 13 to May 15 for persons with positive blood test results. Those who are unable to attend the on-site mobile chest X-ray can do so at SATA CommHealth.
The agency said that those with normal chest X-ray results will be referred to SATA CommHealth Bedok to commence TB preventive treatment – which is voluntary, with the cost covered by CDA.
Those with an abnormal chest X-ray will be further evaluated at the National Tuberculosis Care Centre and will commence treatment promptly if diagnosed with active TB disease.
CDA said that contact tracing for each active TB disease case will be conducted in accordance with "current contact tracing protocols to identify and evaluate close contacts for screening".
Continue reading...