Twenty new patients in four provinces have contracted the mosquito-borne Zika virus, but the situation remains under control, according to the Public Health Ministry.
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Numerous cases are thought to be locally-transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
“What we are concerned now is the possibility of transmission?”
There have been no reports of confirmed cases of Zika virus among people who attended the Games, both during and since their return.
However, DOH confirmed the reported case of a 45-year old female in Iloilo.
“We would like to know where it came from”, Alonsabe said.
In other words, the world has cause to remain concerned about the Zika virus.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) stated in the press release yesterday (5 September) that suspects of Zika cases will be no longer required to be isolated while waiting for test results starting from today (6 September). Neighboring Singapore has over the past week said it detected more than 240 Zika cases while Malaysia reported its first locally transmitted infection on Saturday.
Subramaniam was asked to comment on the Federal Territories (FT) mufti’s approval of abortion for pregnant mothers infected with the Zika virus.
More than two billion people could be at risk from Zika virus outbreaks in parts of Africa and Asia, according to study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
New analysis reveals that Zika could land in India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The health officials reminded pregnant women about the risk of getting infected with the Zika virus, which is linked to severe brain and other neurological birth defects including microcephaly, a rare condition that results in babies born with small heads.
Experts say containing Zika requires different measures in different countries.
The DOH has coordinated with local officials to intensify mosquito-control efforts, including targeted fogging.
“The confirmation of the second case of Zika in Kota Kinabalu suggests that the virus is already present within our communities”, Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said.
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The WHO has declared the Zika outbreak an worldwide health emergency, and if Malaysia’s fight against dengue is any indication, it will struggle with Zika.
