Singapore fights Zika outbreak

SINGAPORE Singapore’s Ministry of Health has confirmed 16 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection.

Of those, 11 cases were linked to earlier cases identified  in eastern districts of Singapore.

Most of the confirmed Zika cases have been centred around the adjacent suburbs of Aljunied and Paya Lebar.

The other four cases have no known links to any existing cluster.

The National Environment Agencies continues its vector control operations districts where outbreaks were reported.

As of 4 September it reports 63 breeding habitats – comprising 37 in homes and 26 in common areas/other premises – have been detected and destroyed.

In just one week, Zika cases in Singapore have gone from zero to 258, raising concerns about a potential rapid surge in cases across Asia.

It’s not yet clear why Zika has spread so suddenly in Singapore.

The culprit is the Aedes aegypti mosquito that thrives during the rainy season across Southeast Asia.

Dengue is also spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and often the symptoms of the Zika virus are very similar.

In 2015, Singapore spent SGD72 million dollars on research and prevention of Dengue fever.

The Zika virus is a serious risk for pregnant women who are recommended not to travel to a destination where there have been recent outbreaks.

Singapore is recommending its citizens to apply mosquito repellent to exposed areas of the body, and has introduced a “Five-step mozzie wipeout” that instructs citizens on how to get rid of any pools of stagnant water in and around their homes.