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Communicable Diseases Agency
Press Releases

Tuberculosis screening for persons who frequent Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market and Singapore Pools Bedok Betting Centre

30 April 2026

  1. The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) will conduct mandatory tuberculosis (TB) screening from 4 May to 7 May 2026 for tenants and workers of Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market and Singapore Pools Bedok Betting Centre, as part of our ongoing public health efforts to detect and prevent the spread of TB in the community. We will also extend voluntary screening to members of the public who have visited these locations for an extended period of time.

  2. Singapore has implemented comprehensive national strategies to strengthen TB surveillance and care, ensure effective treatment and prevent transmission. Since 2020, whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been incorporated into TB surveillance to enhance contact tracing and further reduce TB transmission. WGS has enabled comprehensive analysis of the genetic makeup of the TB bacteria and precise identification of related cases. With WGS, we have the ability to detect genetically similar TB cases, and expect to identify clusters from time to time.

Identification of TB Clusters

  1. Epidemiological investigations and WGS analysis conducted by CDA’s National TB Programme have revealed 13 cases with genetic similarities across three clusters in Bedok Central between January 2023 and February 2026. All the cases had immediately started on treatment following diagnosis, and are no longer infectious. Amongst them, seven have completed treatment, five are currently undergoing treatment and one is deceased from causes not linked to TB.

  2. Several cases were not close contacts of earlier confirmed cases, but had overlapping activity patterns at Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market and Singapore Pools Bedok Betting Centre over a period of time. These findings suggest possible TB exposure at the three locations through repeated visits or prolonged exposure.

TB Screening and Testing

  1. As a precautionary measure and to protect the community from TB transmission, CDA will screen tenants and workers of the affected locations to enable early detection and treatment where necessary.

  2. We will also extend voluntary screening to members of the public who have visited these locations for an extended period of time. These include those who have spent a cumulative 96 hours in a year (equivalent to two hours per week or eight hours per month) at the affected locations from January 2023 to date. For example:

    • If you have visited Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market for lunch for an hour three times a week since January 2026, you would have spent around 48 hours there. This means you do not have to be screened.

    • If you have worked at the affected locations for four hours a day, three times a week over a two-month period, you would have spent 96 hours at the affected locations. This means you are eligible for screening.

    • If you have visited Heartbeat@Bedok every weekend for two hours a week over a year, you would have spent around 104 hours there. This means you are eligible for screening.

Individuals can check their eligibility at https://go.gov.sg/eligibilitybedok2026 (opens in new tab) to determine if they should come forward for screening.

  1. Both mandatory and voluntary screening, as well as further tests, are offered free of charge.

  2. To ensure convenience for affected individuals, onsite screening will be conducted at the Atrium of Heartbeat@Bedok from 4 May to 7 May 2026, where a blood test will be administered to detect TB infection. Testing will also be available at SATA CommHealth Bedok Clinic1 on 2 May from 8.30am to 3pm.

  3. Individuals who test positive on the blood test will be contacted by CDA to arrange for a chest x-ray appointment. We will provide onsite chest x-ray screening at Heartbeat@Bedok from 14 May to 15 May 2026.

  4. Persons who test positive on the blood test but have a normal chest X-ray have what is termed as latent TB infection (LTBI). These persons do not exhibit symptoms of TB, are not infectious and therefore do not pose a public health risk. Those diagnosed with LTBI will be offered preventive treatment to reduce their risk of developing active TB disease in the future.

  5. Persons with an abnormal chest x-ray will be further evaluated at the National Tuberculosis Care Centre and will commence treatment promptly if diagnosed with active TB disease. Contact tracing for each active TB disease case will be conducted in accordance with current contact tracing protocols to identify and evaluate close contacts for screening.

  6. Individuals are required to register and make an appointment for onsite screening at Heartbeat@Bedok at https://go.gov.sg/bedokscreening2026 (opens in new tab). Eligible individuals who are unable to attend the onsite screening may make alternative appointments at SATA CommHealth Bedok Clinic or the National Tuberculosis Screening Centre2. Screening will be available at these locations from 4 May to 5 June 2026.

Health Advisory

  1. TB is an airborne disease that requires prolonged close contact for transmission (days to weeks of contact, rather than minutes to hours). The risk of infection from casual or brief contact remains low. A person cannot get TB from sharing cups, utensils or food.

  2. Members of the public are advised to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms of TB, such as persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss.

  3. TB is treatable and curable with medication, and early detection helps prevent further transmission. For individuals diagnosed with active TB disease, adherence to treatment is important. Those diagnosed with LTBI will be offered preventive treatment to reduce their risk of developing TB disease in the future. More information on TB can be found in the Annex.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AGENCY

30 APRIL 2026

1 SATA CommHealth Bedok Clinic is located at 351 Chai Chee Street, Singapore 468982. Operating hours from Monday to Friday 8:30AM to 5PM, and Saturdays from 8:30AM to 1PM, except on 2 May, when it is open till 3PM.

2 National Tuberculosis Screening Centre is located at 142 Moulmein Road, Singapore 308087. Operating hours from Monday to Friday, 8AM to 4PM.

Annex

About Tuberculosis

  1. TB is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB disease usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Symptoms of TB disease include a persistent cough that lasts more than two weeks, low-grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and chest pain.

  2. TB is spread when the person suffering from TB disease coughs the TB bacteria into the air, and the bacteria is inhaled by those who have close and prolonged contact with an infectious individual. Transmission of the TB bacteria usually requires prolonged exposure (days to weeks, rather than minutes to hours). A person cannot get TB from sharing cups, eating utensils, or food. TB is also not spread through shaking hands, kissing, touching bed linens or toilet seats.

  3. The TB vaccine (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG)) given at birth is effective at preventing serious forms of TB – such as TB which affects the linings of the brain (TB meningitis) – in young children. However, it does not protect against lung TB, which is the most common form of TB in adults.

Latent TB infection

  1. When a person is exposed to the TB bacteria from an infectious TB disease case, they may develop LTBI. Persons with LTBI do not have symptoms of TB (e.g. cough) and cannot spread TB to others. The TB bacteria remain inactive in their body in about 90% of healthy adults with LTBI.

  2. In about 5% of persons with LTBI, TB disease develops in the first two years after acquiring LTBI. Another 5% of persons with LTBI may develop TB disease later during their lifetime, especially as they age. The risk of developing TB disease is higher in persons with a weak immune system and young children under five years of age. Persons found to have LTBI will be offered treatment if suitable, to reduce their risk of developing TB disease in the future.

  3. LTBI is not uncommon in Singaporeans. The prevalence of LTBI increases with age, ranging from 2% among persons aged between 18 and 29 years old to 29% among those aged between 70 and 79 years old.

Treatment of TB Disease

  1. Persons with TB disease will be started on treatment immediately. Persons who do not adhere to their medications have a higher chance of developing drug resistance, treatment failure and future disease relapse.

  2. Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) remains an important component of TB treatment. Under DOT, TB medications are administered under the supervision of a trained healthcare worker to support treatment adherence and successful outcomes. To prevent disruption to TB treatment, patients are counselled on the importance of adhering to their medication regimen, potential side effects and treatment completion. It is in the best interest of the patient and the community that TB patients adhere to the recommended treatment protocol.

  3. As part of CDA’s ongoing commitment to patient-centred care, treatment delivery models continue to evolve to better support patients and their caregivers. Video-observed therapy (VOT) is also offered to suitable patients, providing a safe and convenient alternative to in-person supervision. Patients demonstrating consistent treatment adherence may transition to VOT or reduced frequency DOT. Moving forward, TB care will adopt more individualised approaches, with treatment supervision tailored to patients’ needs and circumstances, while maintaining high standards of safety and effectiveness.