SINGAPORE
- The first imported case of the Zika virus infection has been reported in
Singapore on Friday (May 13).
The patient
is a 48-year-old male Singapore permanent resident who had travelled to Sao
Paulo in Brazil from March 27 to May 7.
The
Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a
joint statement that they were informed of the case on Friday.
The
patient developed fever and rash from Tuesday and was admitted to Mount
Elizabeth Novena Hospital on Thursday and isolated.
He tested
positive for the Zika virus on Friday. The virus is spread by the Aedes
mosquito, which also transmits dengue.
MOH and
NEA said the patient will be transferred to the Communicable Diseases Centre at
Tan Tock Seng Hospital for treatment and isolation so as to minimise the
chances of being bitten by mosquitoes and spreading the infection in the
community.
The
patient is currently well and recovering, but will only be discharged when he
tests negative for the Zika virus.
MOH is also
screening the patient's household members. They have been advised to monitor
their health and seek medical treatment if unwell.
While the
patient's residence at Watten Estate is not an active dengue cluster, NEA has
intensified vector control operations to control the Aedes mosquito population
in the area.
As the
majority of people infected with the virus do not show symptoms, it is possible
that some transmission may already have taken place before the first confirmed
case of Zika was notified.
NEA urged
residents to cooperate fully with its officers and allow them to inspect their
premises for mosquito breeding and to spray insecticide to kill any mosquitoes.
It also
advised residents of Watten Estate, Casa Perla, Hillcrest Arcadia, The Arcadia
and Watten Hill Condominium to monitor their health.
They
should seek medical attention if unwell, especially if they develop symptoms
such as fever, skin rashes, joint and muscle pains, headaches and red eyes.
They
should also inform their doctors of the location of their residence.
Those who
have returned to Singapore from countries with Zika outbreaks should monitor
their health for the next 14 days and consult a doctor if they have symptoms of
the virus.
MOH will
provide further updates and health advisories at www.moh.gov.sg/zika.
In a
Facebook post on Friday night, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Sim Ann said its
grassroots team will give NEA full support in conducting house visits and
engaging residents.
The virus
has been spreading across the Americas and is linked to microcephaly or
underdeveloped brains in babies. Cases have also been reported in the region, including
the Philippines, Thailand Vietnam and East Malaysia.
The
Singapore authorities have warned earlier that it was “almost inevitable” that
the Zika virus will find its way here because Singapore plays host to many
foreign visitors and residents travel abroad frequently, making imported Zika
cases likely.
The
authorities have already stepped up measures to detect and cope with possible
Zika cases. The MOH has set up a clinical advisory group to look into the
management of pregnant women who might have the Zika virus. The panel will come
up with guidelines for doctors treating such women.
The NEA
has also stepped up the testing of blood samples of patients with fever, rash
or suspected dengue.
In
February this year, Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor said in
Parliament that the MOH was looking at working with the relevant institutions
on potential areas for collaboration and research, such as Zika virus
diagnostics, transmission, and its association with microcephaly. And if a case
is detected in Singapore, NEA and other agencies under the Inter-Agency Dengue
Task Force will intensify search and destroy efforts to contain the Aedes
mosquito population at the implicated sites.
No comments:
Post a Comment