Burma’s Ministry of Health said that since the Zika epidemic began in Brazil in 2015, they have been taking precautionary measures in the country and screening passengers for fever when arriving at airports and ports.
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Authorities said two pregnant women are among those infected since the first locally transmitted case was reported six days ago.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed there have been no confirmed cases of Zika virus disease among either travelers or athletes who participated at the Rio Olympics. It reported another 656 cases brought in by people infected while traveling overseas, mainly areas of Latin America where the virus is spreading.
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.
To date, there have been no reports of confirmed cases of Zika virus among people who attended the Games, both during the games and since their return.
Most people who are infected with Zika have mild symptoms but infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause microcephaly – a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized – as well as other brain abnormalities.
Singapore has reported 215 cases of Zika infections, as scientists in the city-state said the virus strain came from within Asia and was not imported from Brazil.
In a press conference, the DOH’s Bureau of Quarantine said overseas Filipino workers from Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, Indonesia, and Thailand are especially being monitored.
More than 1,400 cases of microcephaly in babies have been linked to Zika in Brazil.
Researchers link Zika to the potentially fatal Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can lead to weakness and paralysis.
Neighbouring Malaysia has reported at least one case of locally transmitted Zika.
Though not common, people with the virus can experience symptoms of fever, rash, joint pain, headache and red eyes.
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High travel volumes from disease-hit areas in the American continent and the presence of mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus has made India vulnerable to the risk of Zika, according to a new study.
