Singapore authorities have confirmed 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus, which in Brazil has been linked to a rare birth defect.
Those infected include 36 foreign construction workers employed at a site near Aljunied. This was announced by the MOH and National Environment Agency (NEA) in a joint press conference on Sunday, 28 August.
On Saturday, authorities had confirmed Singapore’s first case of a local transmission of the virus, to a 47-year-old Malaysian woman, also from the Aljunied area.
Of the 41 cases, 36 were detected through active testing. In all, 34 cases have fully recovered. The remaining 7 are still symptomatic and recovering at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
So far, the cases appear to be localised within the Aljunied Crescent and Sims Drive cluster, said MOH.
The NEA started intensified vector control operations – targeting Aedes mosquitoes which spread the virus – and will continue for 14 days, with surveillance of the situation for another 21 days afterwards. These include misting, fogging and increasing the frequency of flushing and oiling drains to prevent mosquito breeding.
FIRST CASE IN SINGAPORE
A 48-year-old man tested positive for Zika in May. He had travelled to Sao Paulo for work between March 27 and May 7. He was transferred to the Communicable Diseases Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for treatment.
FATAL FOR UNBORN CHILDREN
The Zika virus has mild effects on most people but it can be fatal for unborn children. Pregnant women who get infected may give birth to babies with small heads, a condition called microcephaly, and other brain defects.
Mums-to-be, do watch our space for an upcoming special edition where we interview gynaes for advice and pertinent information.
Ms Tin Pei Ling, MP for MacPherson also comments: “I urge pregnant ladies to monitor your health especially carefully, as Zika can affect the development of an unborn child. As a mother, I am deeply concerned about this and had in fact raised this issue in Parliament earlier this year.”
What is Zika?
A virus first identified in 1947 in Uganda. The first human case was reported in 1954 but infections were initially rare and there were no outbreaks – until 2007 on the Micronesian island of Yap.
SYMPTOMS
These are similar to those of dengue fever- including fever, rashes, joint or muscle pains, and headaches. Red eyes or conjunctivitis are other symptoms. However, Zika symptoms tend to be milder, and only about 20% of those infected with Zika display these symptoms.
EFFECTS
Infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly, a birth defect which causes the baby to have a smaller head and brain. Some of those infected also developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, an auto-immune disorder.
News Source: The Straits Times