One person has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) following a large-scale screening operation conducted in Bedok after multiple TB clusters emerged in the area.
According to the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the individual is currently receiving treatment and is reportedly in stable condition. Authorities added that the patient is expected to become non-infectious after completing two weeks of medication.
The case was detected among 3,525 people screened since May 2 as part of precautionary public health measures targeting several locations in Bedok Central.
Contact Tracing Underway After Positive TB Case Detected
CDA confirmed that contact tracing efforts are now ongoing to identify and assess individuals who may have been in close contact with the patient.
The screening exercise focused on visitors, workers and tenants linked to three locations in Bedok Central:
• Heartbeat@Bedok
• Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market
• Singapore Pools Bedok Betting Centre
Health officials said 14.4 per cent of those screened, or 509 individuals, tested positive during initial blood tests conducted mainly between May 4 and May 7.
Those who tested positive were subsequently asked to undergo chest X-rays between May 13 and May 15 to determine whether they had active TB or latent TB infection (LTBI).
The remaining 3,016 people who tested negative did not require further follow-up.
42 More People Referred For Further Medical Evaluation
Out of the 509 people who initially tested positive, 447 have already completed chest X-rays.
Besides the confirmed active TB case, another 42 individuals were found to have minor abnormalities on their chest scans and will undergo additional evaluation at the National Tuberculosis Care Centre (NTSC) as a precaution.
Authorities stressed that these individuals may not necessarily have active tuberculosis, but further medical assessment is required to rule out possible infection risks.
Meanwhile, 404 people who underwent chest X-rays showed normal results. CDA noted that many of them could have had previous TB exposure or latent TB infections, which are relatively common in Singapore.
CDA Says Bedok TB Rates ‘Within Expectations’
The agency stated that the overall number of active and latent TB cases discovered during the screening exercise remains “within expectations”, as tuberculosis continues to be endemic in Singapore.
According to CDA, around 12.7 per cent of Singapore residents were estimated to have latent TB infections in 2015, with rates potentially rising to 30 per cent among older individuals.
In 2024 alone, 1,156 Singapore residents were diagnosed with active TB, translating to an incidence rate of 27.6 cases per 100,000 residents.
Free Follow-Up Screening Available Until June 5
CDA announced that the Bedok screening operation has officially concluded based on current findings.
However, follow-up consultations and additional testing for affected individuals will continue at SATA CommHealth Bedok Clinic along Chai Chee Street and at NTSC.
Authorities added that all screening and follow-up medical evaluations related to the Bedok TB exercise will remain free of charge until June 5.
The agency also thanked members of the public, tenants and workers who cooperated with the screening efforts over the past few weeks.