Singapore studies first Zika case since March 2020

SINGAPORE: Singapore has reported its first Zika case since March 2020.

The case was reported through the week of Aug 21 to Aug 27 this 12 months, based on the Ministry of Well being’s (MOH) newest weekly infectious ailments bulletin.

CNA has contacted the Well being Ministry for extra data. 

Nationwide Setting Company (NEA) information confirmed that 666 dengue circumstances had been additionally reported throughout the identical week. 

Zika virus an infection is primarily transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, much like dengue. There have been 194 lively dengue clusters in Singapore as of Aug 29 this 12 months. 

The NEA web site additionally confirmed that 75 dengue clusters are presently recognized as “crimson”, indicating that every cluster has 10 or extra circumstances. 

There’s presently no lively Zika cluster as of Friday.

MOSQUITO POPULATION

The Aedes aegypti mosquito inhabitants, which is the first dengue vector, remained excessive in Singapore in July this 12 months. 

“The excessive Aedes aegypti mosquito inhabitants, along with circulation of the beforehand unusual DENV-3, will probably result in dengue case numbers remaining excessive within the coming months,” mentioned the company. 

Based on the MOH web site, solely about one in 5 Zika infections are symptomatic. 

“Zika is mostly a light and self-limiting sickness. Though uncommon, severe neurological problems and foetal abnormalities have been related to Zika virus an infection,” mentioned the ministry, including that there isn’t a vaccine or particular anti-viral medicine for the virus. 

Those that develop signs could expertise fever, rash, joint ache, muscle ache, headache in addition to conjunctivitis or crimson eyes. 

Signs normally seem inside three to 12 days of being bitten by an contaminated Aedes mosquito and might final between 4 and 7 days. 

The World Well being Group (WHO) declared the Zika outbreak a public well being emergency in February 2016. The emergency declaration was lifted in November the identical 12 months.

Singapore reported its very first imported case of Zika in Could 2016, and the primary regionally transmitted case got here a couple of months later in August. By the tip of that 12 months, greater than 450 individuals had been contaminated.

In 2017, there have been 67 confirmed circumstances of Zika, of which three had been imported. One case of Zika was reported in 2018 whereas there have been 12 circumstances in 2019, based on MOH information. 

The virus has been related to neurological diseases equivalent to microcephaly, which causes infants to be born with a smaller head attributable to abnormalities within the improvement of the mind.