Singapore has added Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, and Marburg virus disease to its list of infectious diseases, requiring medical practitioners and clinical laboratories to report all confirmed and suspected cases starting Oct 31, 2026, according to Singapore Law Watch reporting.
Infectious Diseases Act Amendments Target Three Viral Pathogens
The Ministry of Health amended the Infectious Diseases Act and related regulations in September 2026 to bring the three viral conditions under mandatory statutory notification. The Communicable Diseases Agency stated that it has monitored the pathogens due to their severe illness profiles and potential for human-to-human transmission. The World Health Organization estimates that these viral haemorrhagic fevers carry fatality rates reaching up to 50 per cent. Singapore Law Watch noted that doctors and clinical laboratories face legal obligations to notify authorities of any suspected or confirmed diagnoses.
Incoming travellers, including returning residents, must declare their health status and travel history.
Spread Patterns and Severe Clinical Risks of Targeted Pathogens
None of the three targeted diseases currently have approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments, although vaccine development remains ongoing for Lassa fever and Marburg virus disease. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever spreads primarily through tick bites, contact with infected livestock, and exposure to bodily fluids, causing outbreaks with fatality rates up to 40 per cent. Early symptoms include sudden fever, muscle ache, dizziness, sore eyes, and confusion, while severe cases can suffer rapid kidney deterioration or liver and pulmonary failure.
Lassa fever carries an overall fatality rate of 1 per cent, which climbs to at least 15 per cent for hospitalized patients with severe illness. Transmission occurs mainly through food or items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces, alongside possible human-to-human spread. The virus poses acute risks during pregnancy, where foetal death rates exceed 80 per cent in the third trimester and maternal death rates surpass 30 per cent. Up to 25 per cent of recovering patients experience sudden hearing loss that is frequently permanent.
Marburg virus disease transmits via rousettus aegyptiacus fruit bats or between humans, with an average fatality rate around 50 per cent. Patients exhibit high fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, and potential bleeding from the nose, gums, and vagina alongside neurological symptoms.
Expansion of the Dangerous Infectious Diseases Schedule
The legislative changes also amend the Second Schedule of the Infectious Diseases Act, which governs dangerous infectious diseases. The five existing conditions on that list are Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, plague, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and yellow fever. Covid-19 previously occupied a position on this schedule until authorities delisted it in 2024.
The Communicable Diseases Agency stated that the risk posed by the three newly added diseases to Singapore remains low. Officials emphasized that the additions aim to strengthen overall surveillance and preparedness, supporting early detection, case isolation, and contact tracing when necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Singapore Disease Surveillance
What legal obligations do doctors face under the updated Infectious Diseases Act?
Medical practitioners and clinical laboratories are legally required to notify the authorities of all confirmed and suspected cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, and Marburg virus disease starting Oct 31, 2026.
Which five diseases remain on the dangerous infectious diseases list alongside the new additions?
The existing dangerous infectious diseases comprise Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, plague, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and yellow fever.
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