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Printed Date: Friday, November 22, 2024

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Zika virus in Singapore

 Zika virus in Singapore

 
41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus have been confirmed in Singapore, the city-state's Ministry of Health (MOH) said. Seven patients who are still symptomatic, and potentially infectious, are being treated at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the MOH said. "It is not known that they have traveled to Zika-affected areas recently, and are thus likely to have been infected in Singapore," a statement released by the ministry said. The majority of the 41 reported cases are foreign construction workers. There is no vaccine or specific medication to treat the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to serious birth defects. Although all the cases were reported in Aljunied Crescent /Sims Drive area, the MOH warned the virus could spread further as some of the patients live or work in other parts of Singapore.
 
The revelation of the locally-transmitted infections in Singapore are in addition to the 58 countries and territories where the Zika virus is circulating, according to the WHO and Centre for Disease Control. Around the region, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines have "possible endemic transmission or evidence of local mosquito-borne Zika infections in 2016," the WHO said.

Source:  
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/29/health/asia-zika-virus/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-idUSKCN11308Z