MOH has confirmed 41 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in the city state earlier on Monday.
Advertisement
Almost all have recovered but nine more suspected cases of Zika virus infection – both citizens and foreign workers – were reported Monday by two community clinics, local media said. “Given that the majority of Zika cases are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and mosquitoes in the affected areas may already have been infected, isolation of positive cases may have limited effect to managing the spread”.
Inspectors from the National Environment Agency checking for mosquito breeding sites visited homes in the suburban district where 41 cases―mostly foreign workers at a condominium construction project―were reported at the weekend.
As of Monday, NEA has inspected about 3,600 premises out of an estimated 6,000 premises in the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive cluster to check for mosquito breeding, and also conducted ground checks in the vicinity.
Most people infected by Zika experience no symptoms, and in those who do, the symptoms are generally mild.
Singapore clinics Monday reported more Zika infections, bringing the suspected total to 50, as mosquito-fighting teams saturated the scene of the outbreak.
Of the 15 new cases, two of the patients have fully recovered.
The government has also been stepping up on precautionary measures such as thermal fogging, misting and indoor spraying of insecticides at inspected premises. It does not cause serious complications in adults, but it can cause severe brain defects and microcephaly in newborns.
The name of the virus actually comes from Uganda’s tropical Zika forest, where the virus was first discovered in 1947.
All medical institutions in Singapore had been asked “to be extra vigilant” and immediately report any Zika-associated symptoms to the health ministry.
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines have also said health officers will closely monitor arrivals from Singapore, which was visited by 15 million people previous year.
In Thailand, the Department of Disease Control said it was screening athletes returning from the Olympic Games in Brazil, but otherwise not changing its prevention methods.
But the Jakarta-based Eijkman Institute, the main body testing for Zika in Indonesia, said it tested only 1,000 people in the past year – a tiny number in Southeast Asia’s most populous country.
“MCHD will continue to monitor the situation and assist the community in identifying other possible cases”, Eichold said in the statement.
Advertisement
Vietnam has to date reported three cases of locally transmitted Zika infection.
