Locally transmitted Zika virus infects 41 in Singapore

The majority of those infected were foreign workers, but the government has not disclosed their nationalities.

On Aug 25, the MOH had gone to the contractor of a nearby construction site for records of workers with fever.

Workers will also be inspecting properties for mosquito breeding sites and spray backyards if necessary.

SINGAPORE clinics reported more Zika infections yesterday, bringing the total of suspected cases to 50.

Female mosquitoes can transmit the Zika virus to their eggs and offspring, and this may make it harder to contain outbreaks, a new lab study suggests.

The Health Ministry has assigned health officials to stand guard at eight Riau Islands sea ports that serve routes to Singapore as an anticipatory measure to limit the spread of the Zika virus following reports of infections in the city-state. That worries US exporters, who fear they will be required to fumigate containers destined for Chinese ports. Other countries in the region to have detected the Zika virus since 2013 include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives and the Philippines, according to the WHO.

The disease is also being linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome and microcephaly, a condition of abnormal smallness of the head among babies of infected mothers.

Taiwan, Australia and South Korea advised pregnant women and those planning pregnancy to postpone trips to Singapore.

The department’s Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said they have instructed their embassy personnel in Singapore to “immediately issue an advisory to the Filipino community to take precautionary measure to minimize the risk of being infected with the deadly virus”.

The city says it’s expanding its mosquito control efforts to address growing concerns over the West Nile and Zika virus.

The new advice on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smart Traveller website advises: “All travellers should protect themselves from mosquito bites”.

There were no signs of panic among the Singapore residents.

“I feel afraid”, said Ng Kai Yee, an 18-year-old female student who lives near the outbreak area. Mr. Ong said that because Singapore is a small place it is easy to monitor the spread of the virus and that authorities have the means to trace the cases.

Singapore’s health ministry said around three dozen mosquito breeding habitats had been destroyed so far in the main Aljunied cluster.