Singapore: Zika virus is transmitted in the country

Singapore - a country in Southeast Asia - has started a mosquito-killing campaign after dozens of cases of Zika virus infection have been discovered in the country over the weekend.

On August 28, a Malaysian woman, 47, who lives and works in Singapore, is infected with Zika virus and is most likely the first infected case in the country.

The Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency of Singapore said recently that the aforementioned female patient went to Zika-infected areas around the world and was most likely infected with the virus inside Singapore.

The patient showed fever, rash and conjunctivitis from August 25. She was quarantined and is currently recovering. However, three people living in the same house with this patient "had an initial positive test" for the Zika virus.

Spread too fast

The number of cases of Zika in Singapore has increased to nearly 100 people.

The next day, the Singapore Ministry of Health announced that there were 40 more cases of Zika virus infection in Singapore. According to the "Straits Times" newspaper and Channel News Asia, among infected cases there are 36 foreign construction workers working in an area in Aljunied, Southeastern China.

And as of August 30, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) reported an additional 26 cases of domestic Zika virus infection, bringing the total number of cases of this dangerous virus in Singapore. to 82 people.

Of the 26 new cases, the majority live or work around the Alijunied suburb , where most of the previously detected infections are concentrated. The NEA said about 5,000 houses out of about 6,000 houses in the affected area on August 30 had killed 39 breeding mosquitoes.

MOH requires that all pregnant women have symptoms of Zika virus infection such as fever and rash, as well as married women who test positive for Zika virus must be tested regardless of whether they are in infected areas. Zika virus infection or not.

Attempt to stop

Last May, Singapore announced the first Zika virus infection, but was infected from abroad, it was a 48-year-old patient who had just returned from Brazil.

Singapore has a hot and humid climate and many trees record a large number of dengue cases every year. Since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 10,000 dengue cases, of which 7 deaths, higher than 4 deaths in 2015.

However, the infection of Zika virus is more worrisome than dengue fever because it is the cause of small head disease in the fetus.

Recent experts also said the virus could have a negative effect on infected adult brains.

Infection with Zika virus outbreaks in Singapore in the context of the tourism industry of one of the busiest tourist centers in the world faces weak global economic growth.

Singapore has started a mosquito killing campaign after discovering dozens of Zika infections in the country.

The Singapore Tourism Board said it would quickly consider any impact on the smokeless industry and the Lion Island pledge is still "a safe tourist destination".

Neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines said they would monitor visitors from Singapore, while Australia and Taiwan (China) advised citizens not to visit the island nation. The US on August 30 also recommended that pregnant women should not go to Singapore.

The Malaysian government has tightened control at the border crossing with Singapore in Johor state. In addition, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia and Singapore continuously updated information on cases of Zika virus infection as well as applied effective measures to prevent and control the disease.

Meanwhile, the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines also said health workers from the two countries will closely monitor the return of tourists from Singapore.