The Ministry of Health (MOH) in its press release on Wednesday, announced that another 11 people were diagnosed with Zika virus infection As of 12pm, 11 September, making the total number of cases to 329.
Of these, one case is linked to the Elite Terrace cluster. The other ten cases have no known links to any existing cluster.
Eight pregnant women have been confirmed to have Zika. MOH has stated that their doctors are following up closely with them to provide support and counselling.
From Monday 12 September 2016 onwards, NEA and MOH will be providing daily updates via NEA’s website (www.nea.gov.sg/zika-clusters) in place of daily media statements.
Members of the public may refer to the website for updated information on the number of reported Zika cases and ongoing clusters.
Vector Control Update
NEA is said to be continuing with vector control operations and outreach efforts in the cluster areas at Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive/ Paya Lebar Way/ Kallang Way/ Circuit Road/ Geylang East Central/ Geylang East Avenue 1; Bedok North Avenue 2/ Bedok North Avenue 3/ Bedok North Street 3; Joo Seng Road; Bishan Street 12; Elite Terrace; Ubi Crescent and Jalan Raya/Circuit Road. As of 10 September 2016, a total of 202 breeding habitats have been found and destroyed in the cluster areas, of which 121 are from homes, and 81 from common areas/other premises.
NEA will continue to work with stakeholders and the community to reduce mosquito breeding, as vector control is key to reducing the transmission of Zika in the community.
MOH had announced earlier that the National Public Health Laboratory and A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute has completed the sequencing analysis of the Zika virus found in two patients from the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive cluster. The analysis found that the virus belongs to the Asian lineage and likely evolved from the strain that was already circulating in Southeast Asia. MOH states that the virus from these two patients was not imported from South America. However, the first case that was reported in May 2016 had been confirmed to be the same as the strains currently found in South America the strains currently found in South America.
