Singapore said a pregnant woman tested positive for the Zika virus infection on Wednesday, as the number of reported cases reached more than 100 in less than week since the first locally-transmitted infection was identified.
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According to the official data, a 58-year-old woman had worked in Singapore, she had shown signs of a rash and fever one week after her returning home on August 21.
Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said her daughter, who is in Singapore, had tested positive for Zika on Tuesday.
The woman recently visited her daughter in Singapore, The Star reports.
“We expect there may be further cases, as most infected persons may display mild symptoms”, the statement added.
However, pregnant women and unborn fetuses are thought to be most at risk for Zika symptoms, with the disease suspected of causing birth defects such as microcephaly (small head syndrome) and brain damage.
He said five Malaysians working and residing in Singapore have been confirmed infected, with Singapore reporting a total 115 cases as at yesterday. However, out of concern for her privacy, Singapore’s Health Ministry had only stated that she was Indonesian and female, he said. The result of the urine PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test on Aug 31 was found positive for Zika virus. “It has all the genetic traits that would allow it to spread where dengue thrives – the virus can infect and spread through the same Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that spread dengue virus”, said Ooi.
But Democrats oppose that package because it would exclude Planned Parenthood from the list of providers that would get new funding for contraception to combat the spread of Zika, which also can be transmitted sexually.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed that an Indonesian citizen is infected by the Zika virus in Singapore.
The United States and Britain joined Australia and Taiwan in advising pregnant women to avoid non-essential travel to the city-state, while a local health expert warned the infection rate would rise. Singapore announced the first locally contracted case of Zika late on Saturday.
Department of Disease Control (DDC) director-general Amnuay Gajeena said the Zika virus situation in Thailand remains unchanged.
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Despite being one of Asia’s cleanest cities with high health care standards, Singapore is a densely populated tropical island with heavy rainfall.
