Singapore’s Ministry of Health confirmed 15 more cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus on Monday, bringing the total number of affected to 56.
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The Singapore cases appear to be the largest single beachhead that the Zika virus has made in Asia during the current epidemic.
Here’s a round-up of what they are saying.
They should seek medical attention if they are unwell, especially with symptoms of fever and rash, and pregnant women should adopt strict mosquito precaution if traveling to affected areas, the ministry said.
In a statement on its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, the Australian government warned travellers to protect themselves from mosquito bites while in Singapore. Those returning from the country should avoid pregnancy for two months.
As confirmed cases of Zika virus in Singapore rose to 82 on Tuesday, the United States and South Korea joined a growing list of countries warning pregnant women or those trying to get pregnant to avoid travelling to the city-state.
As of August 26, there were 545 travel-related Zika cases in Florida (in Polk County, as of August 22, there were 16 travel-related cases reported), and an additional 75 among pregnant women. In the first half of this year, tourism arrivals reached nearly 8.2 million, compared with around 7.3 million in the same period of last year.
The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed the case via telephone interview, but did not divulge in which municipality the case was discovered.
Neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia have stepped up protective measures, introducing thermal scanners at airports and border checkpoints with the island state. FairPrice supermarkets and Watsons pharmacies said their sales of such products had doubled.
On Aug. 28, the local government issued an order to halt all work being done in the GuocoLand-owned construction site, where most of the infected foreign workers are staying.
Foreign workers in Singapore, employed mostly in the construction and marine industries, can earn as little as S$2 ($1.47) an hour, often work 12-14 hours a day and take few days off.
The Chinese and Myanmar embassies in Singapore said they had not been notified by Singapore whether their citizens were among those infected. The authorities will proceed with forced entry if the owners do not comply, it said.
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There is now no cure or vaccine to prevent Zika infection, and treatments are focused on relieving symptoms.
