One active tuberculosis case detected after Bedok screening exercise concludes

SINGAPORE: One person has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) following a large-scale screening exercise in Bedok, according to an update released by the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) on 19 May 2026.

The agency said the patient has already started treatment and “is doing well”.

CDA added that the individual is expected to become non-infectious after completing two weeks of treatment.

Contact tracing underway

CDA said contact tracing efforts are ongoing to identify and assess individuals who had close contact with the patient.

The case emerged after follow-up testing involving people who had initially tested positive during blood screenings conducted in Bedok earlier this month.

According to the agency, 509 people, or 14.4 per cent of the 3,525 screened, recorded positive blood test results and were referred for chest X-rays to determine whether they had active TB disease or latent TB infection.

To date, 447 individuals have completed chest X-ray screening. Among them, one person was diagnosed with active TB.

CDA said the remaining individuals will continue to be assessed at SATA CommHealth Bedok Clinic or the National Tuberculosis Screening Centre.

Additional clinical evaluations

The agency also disclosed that 42 people would undergo further assessment at the National Tuberculosis Care Centre as a precautionary measure.

“They may not have active TB disease but have minor abnormalities on their chest X-ray. They will undergo a thorough clinical assessment,” CDA said.

The remaining individuals who completed chest X-rays were found to have normal results. CDA noted that these people could have had previous infections or latent TB infection.

The screening exercise targeted tenants, workers and frequent visitors linked to Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market, and Singapore Pools Bedok Betting Centre.

Most screened individuals tested negative

CDA said 85.6 per cent of all individuals screened tested negative and did not require any further follow-up action.

The agency had earlier stated in an update on 13 May 2026 that the majority of people screened during the Bedok exercise tested negative for the disease.

“Based on the results so far, CDA has concluded the screening exercise at Bedok,” the agency said in its latest statement.

However, free screening services and further tests will continue until 5 June 2026.

Public health context

CDA said the active TB disease and latent TB infection rates detected during the Bedok screening exercise were “within expectations”.

According to Ministry of Health (MOH) data released in 2024, Singapore recorded 1,156 new cases of active TB disease among residents, translating to an incidence rate of 27.6 cases per 100,000 residents.

MOH also noted that latent TB infection remains relatively common within the population, particularly among older age groups, where infection rates can reach up to 30 per cent.

The ministry previously said that about 90 per cent of individuals with latent TB carry inactive bacteria throughout their lives without developing active disease.

Around 5 per cent develop active TB within the first two years after infection, while another 5 per cent may develop active TB later in life.

CDA reiterated that follow-up assessments for remaining individuals would continue at designated screening centres in the coming weeks.