The patient developed a fever on Aug 27 and had sought medical attention at the Luyang Health Clinic on Aug 30.
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A Sabahan, the victim of the first case of a locally-transmitted Zika infection, died today due to heart complications.
A week after Singapore reported its first case of locally transmitted Zika infection, local scientists say they have completed genetic sequencing of the virus.
As he was also suffering from other diseases such high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and chronic kidney disease, his condition was very serious at the hospital, but not due to Zika infection, said the statement.
He added that investigation showed that the patient has not travelled overseas recently and his infection was probably locally-transmitted – bitten by a Zika-infected Aedes mosquito.
The Zika virus is also linked to instances of microcephaly – a developmental defect resulting in a smaller-than-normal head or brain – in newborns.
It has initiated vector control activities, including eliminating Aedes breeding sites, larvaciding and fogging in residential areas and places that the patient had visited.
There is some bad Zika news from the latest WHO report, however: The agency said it still considers Zika an global public health emergency since the virus continues to turn up in new places, wreaking potential damage to fetuses wherever it goes.
There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes.
Taking a health policy victory lap, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that there had been no confirmed cases of Zika among people who attended the Olympic Games in Brazil last month.
The confirmation came two days after Malaysia confirmed its first Zika case after a 58-year-old woman who recently traveled to Singapore – where the number of reported infections has risen to 189 – tested positive for the virus.
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Almost 80 percent of people infected with the virus will have no symptoms.
