Singapore's National Environment Agency Thursday (NEA) called for the public vigilance against dengue as the first death from the disease this year was confirmed.

An 85-year-old male retiree was certified to have died last month from dengue shock syndrome, according to the NEA.

Furthermore, last week's number of dengue cases climbed to 210,bringing the total number of dengue fever cases to 1697 this year,a 60 percent increase from the same period last year.

Chief executive officer of the NEA Lee Yuen Hee said, "We have to continue to emphasize to our people that they have to maintain the vigilance, they have to practise the 10-minute mozzie wipeout that we've been advocating. The mosquitoes only need 7 days to breed and therefore we need to maintain a very high vigilance".

He anticipated that there could be a rise in dengue cases because of the traditionally warmer weather at this point of time.

The NEA is working with some 25 government agencies to minimize breeding habitats outside homes such as construction sites and vacant plots of land.

Speaking at the launch of a new exhibition on infectious diseases, Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan also urged the public to do their part to stop the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

"There are many things which are beyond our control, weather, strain, Aedes and so on. But there are also many things which are within our control like keep your houses clean, don't litter, and so on," local television Channel NewsAsia quoted Khaw as saying.