The UN health agency convened its expert committee this week to assess the latest status of the epidemic.
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David Heymann, chairman of the emergency committee on Zika, addresses a press conference at the headquarters of the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday.
Amidst the controversy surrounding the Olympics this year, one major fear was over the mosquito-borne virus, which is mainly found in Latin America.
On Thursday, it said the case load had jumped to 151 infections, including two pregnant women.
The patient, whose blood and urine samples tested positive for Zika, did not travel overseas recently and was probably bitten by Aedes mosquito infected with Zika, the ministry said.
Malaysia yesterday confirmed its first locally transmitted case of Zika infection in a man living in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.
“We must work and plan on the basis that there is Zika transmission in other parts of Singapore and extend our vector control efforts beyond the current affected areas”.
Worldwide health authorities had said that the Olympics would not be a danger for furthering spread of the virus.
While expectant mothers have to take precautions against the virus, he pointed out that in pregnancy, there are also many other risks involved.
This was the first dip in new infections since Aug 29, bringing the total to 215 cases.
It can also cause rare adult-onset neurological problems such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which can result in paralysis and even death.
“Working with the scientific community, we have learned that Zika has consequences with infants beyond microcephaly to a range of complications from hearing and eyesight complications to seizures”, he said.
There have been about 1.5 million reported Zika cases in Brazil.
World Health Organization still does not know whether the Zika virus could be perfectly tracked as it spreads into countries having poor healthcare systems. Active transmission is thought to be occurring only in two small areas around Miami.
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Malaysia has stepped up screening of travellers from overseas, particularly Singapore, and fogging with mosquito-killing chemicals while urging the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water.
