SINGAPORE – Two residents of the Ang Mo Kio HDB block that saw six cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) may have active TB, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement today (July 4).
“They are currently being followed up for treatment, monitoring and contact tracing,” the MOH said.
223 residents of Block 203, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 were screened on-site last month after an “unusual cluster” of MDR TB cases was found over a four-year period.
The Straits Times, The New Paper
Results of the three-day screening were progressively released to the residents from June 30.
While 164 tested negative for TB, 45 may have latent TB, which is not infectious and is likely caused by past exposure to the TB bacteria.
Three residents who contracted TB earlier in life had abnormal chest X-ray results, but this is possibly a result of scarring from their previous infection, the MOH said.
Nine other residents have yet to complete their screening.
Residents and former residents of the block can still be screened for free at SATA clinics in Ang Mo Kio or at the TB Control Unit.
huizhen@sph.com.sg
