Fifteen more cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus have been confirmed in Singapore, the city-state’s Ministry of Health (MOH) said late Monday.
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THE Health Department said Monday it is closely monitoring and testing travelers from countries where the Zika virus is endemic to prevent its spread in the Philippines.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) issued a Stop Work Order (SWO) to the construction site on August 27 following an earlier inspection on August 24 that found conditions to be below par.
On Aug 25, the MOH had gone to the contractor of a nearby construction site for records of workers with fever.
The MOH, warning of further community transmission, said other areas of concern at this point include Khatib Camp, Sembawang Drive and places where the construction workers live, including Kranji Road, Joo Chiat Place, Senoko South Road, Toh Guan Road East and Lorong 101 Changi.
“With the presence of Zika in our region and the volume of travel by Singaporeans as well as tourists, it is inevitable there will be imported cases of Zika into Singapore”, the ministry said.
The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito, like dengue.
None of those infected had travelled recently to Zika affected areas.
The agency said pregnant women or women who are planning to get pregnant are advised to postpone traveling to areas where Zika is actively spreading.
Almost all have recovered but nine more suspected cases of Zika virus infection – both citizens and foreign workers – were reported by two community clinics yesterday, local media said. People infected with the Zika virus may have no symptoms – it causes only mild symptoms in one out of five people. That worries US exporters, who fear they will be required to fumigate containers destined for Chinese ports.
Zika virus was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization in the month of February this year. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, which is a sign of incomplete brain development.
“Women who are pregnant should not travel to Singapore”.
The Zika virus was detected in Brazil previous year and has since spread across the Americas.
The new advice on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smart Traveller website advises: “All travellers should protect themselves from mosquito bites”. “This is not a life-threatening thing like SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome]”.
They included a pregnant 32-year-old.
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Authorities in Singapore have intensified anti-mosquito breeding efforts after the detection of 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus infection.
