Fifteen more cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection were reported in Singapore, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday.
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Singapore’s first imported Zika case was reported in May after a man who visited Brazil began showing symptoms and was admitted to hospital.
Here’s a round-up of what they are saying.
On Tuesday, the United States warned pregnant women not to travel to Singapore, joining Australia, Taiwan and South Korea. “All travelers should protect themselves from mosquito bite”, Australia’s foreign affairs and trade department said.
“Adopt additional measures advised by the Department of Health, including deferring non-essential travel if pregnant, avoiding pregnancy for two months following your return and other advice for both males and females”, it added.
At the local front, Ubial said they are now on alert towards travellers coming from Singapore, who could have been afflicted with the Zika virus.
People who are symptomatic and have either traveled to an affected country in the last 14 days, or live/work in the Aljunied/Sims Drive areas, should get medical attention right away. In the first half of this year, tourism arrivals reached nearly 8.2 million, compared with around 7.3 million in the same period of last year. At least three dozen patients have made a full recovery.
A chief concern is that because the Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito vector, MOH can not rule out further community transmission in Singapore.
Malaysia and Indonesia have stepped up protective measures following the Singapore outbreak, intensifying checks on people arriving from Singapore and introducing thermal scanners at airports and border checkpoints.
Of the 26 new cases, 17 live or work in the Sims Drive/ Aljunied Crescent area and five live or work in Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way.
The majority of the 41 reported cases are foreign construction workers.
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The agency has also inspected the on-site workers quarters at the construction site at Sims Drive, where some 36 construction workers were found to have been infected with Zika. The High Commission of Bangladesh, which represents the largest community of foreign workers, said none of the workers were Bangladeshis. NEA has also served notices on more than 400 inaccessible premises in the cluster. The authorities will proceed with forced entry if the owners do not comply, it said.
