Majority test negative in Bedok tuberculosis screening, 473 flagged for further checks

The three locations are: Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market and the Singapore Pools Bedok betting centre. Thirteen genetically similar cases across these places were detected between January 2023 and February this year, prompting authorities to conduct mandatory screening for tenants and workers there.

Voluntary screening was also offered to members of the public who visited these locations for an extended period of time.

CDA noted that the prevalence of latent TB among all Singapore residents was 12.7 per cent in 2015. The prevalence of latent TB increases with age, ranging from 2 per cent among people aged between 18 and 29, to 29 per cent among those aged between 70 and 79, it added.

CDA noted 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.