The report’s authors said: “As the Zika virus epidemic in the Americas intensifies and expands, hundreds, and possibly thousands, of infected travellers are now transporting the virus to distant regions of the world”.
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Singapore is the only country in Asia with active transmission of Zika.
Singapore authorities say 115 people have now tested positive for the virus, including a pregnant woman and 57 foreigners living and working in the city-state.
It called on Malaysians to do all they can to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites such as standing water and to seek early medical attention if they have Zika symptoms, especially if they have visited outbreak areas such as Singapore.
Given that the virus has been detected in this country, more Zika cases are expected if no precaution measures are taken by the community and the people, said the ministry. The recent outbreak was first noted in May 2015 in Brazil.
“Our findings could offer valuable information to support time-sensitive public health decision-making at local, national, and global levels”, Dr Kamran Khan, study author from St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, told the BBC.
“This still does remain an emergency of worldwide concern”, Heymann said.
After the case was confirmed, members from the Tennessee Department of Health and WEMA went door-to-door this morning within a 200-yard radius – the recommended treatment distance – of the infected individual’s residence to inform the community about the confirmed case.
The finding is part of an effort to fully characterize the harm caused by the Zika virus during pregnancy. The Zika virus, spread by the Aedes mosquito, is especially unsafe for pregnant women as their babies may be born with neurological disorders, including microcephaly.
Brazil has the vast majority of cases of microcephaly, or infants born with abnormally small heads. More than fifty cases have been noted in the United Kingdom so far.
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In December 2013 a resident in New York City was found to have some symptoms of the Zika virus, but it became more noticeable in Brazil in 2014 when it experienced outbreaks. But other studies have shown that Zika can cause other brain abnormalities, vision problems and joint deformities. Up to 80 per cent of cases are asymptomatic.
