Toa Payoh: PonteSud – News Desk
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said enhanced surveillance has revealed persistent Zika virus signals in the area, which suggest it is an area with likely Zika transmission.
The Zika virus has been found in wastewater or mosquito samples collected in the vicinity of the reported cases. A check on the NEA website shows that as at June 18, there are no Zika clusters in Singapore.
Zika is a viral infection spread mainly through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, which also carries the dengue and chikungunya viruses.
It can be transmitted through sex, transfusion of blood and blood products, or from mother to foetus during pregnancy.
Zika is a viral infection spread mainly through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, which also carries the dengue and chikungunya viruses.
Only one in five people infected with the virus displays symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, headache, joint and muscle pain, and red eyes.
The symptoms usually develop between three and 12 days after the mosquito bite, and often last between four and seven days. Nausea and vomiting may also occur.
Individuals who suspect they have contracted Zika should see a doctor quickly, advised NEA. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test uses blood and urine tests to determine the infection.
Zika infection in blood can be detected between five and seven days of the onset of symptoms, and in urine within 14 days of the first appearance of symptoms.
Unborn babies are at greatest risk should their mothers get infected with the Zika virus. Between 1 per cent and 10 per cent of women infected during pregnancy give birth to babies with birth defects.
The most common defect is microcephaly, where the baby is born with a much smaller head and often a smaller brain that might not have developed properly. Other birth defects include difficulty swallowing, hearing loss, and vision problems and seizures.
Not all babies born with congenital Zika virus will have all of these conditions. Some babies develop long-term health problems later on in life.
There is no known cure for the Zika virus, but symptoms of the infection can be treated. To avoid getting infected, people are advised to use mosquito repellant and wear clothing that covers the body, arms and legs.
NEA also advises the public to prevent mosquito breeding by removing stagnant water at home and surrounding areas. Stagnant water in potted plants should also be emptied regularly. Sleeping under mosquito nets and in rooms with wire-mesh screens can also help keep out mosquitoes.
