SINGAPORE – The number of new Zika cases fell to eight on Wednesday (Sept 7), according to figures from the Ministry of Health (MOH), but a new cluster could be forming.
As of noon, MOH has confirmed eight new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection, of which two were linked to the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Kallang Way/ Paya Lebar Way cluster.
One case was linked to the Bishan Street 12 cluster.
There is a potential new cluster involving one previously reported case and a new case on Wednesday, MOH said.
They both live in the Elite Terrace area in Siglap. The other four cases have no known links to any existing cluster.
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The total number of Zika cases transmitted locally is now 283.
Ms Dedina Wong, 39, who stays along Elite Park Avenue directly opposite Elite Terrace, said she is not overly concerned as she has always taken precautions against mosquitoes due to dengue.
“I sprayed my two kids with repellent or put patches on them when they go to the playground on a daily basis even before Zika was found in Singapore,” the housewife said.
Another resident Aloysius Koh, 15, said his family was also well-prepared.
They have stocked up on mosquito patches and repellent as they have always been wary of dengue, said the student, who has been staying at Elite Terrace all his life.
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Vector control operations to eradicate the Aedes mosquito, which spreads both Zika and dengue, continued in affected areas.
They include Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Paya Lebar Way, Kallang Way, Circuit Road, Geylang East Central, Geylang East Avenue 1, Bedok North Avenue, Joo Seng Road, and Bishan Street 12.
As of Tuesday, 150 breeding habitats have been found and destroyed in the cluster areas, of which 99 are from homes, and 51 from outdoor areas, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.
NEA will also be carrying out vector control operations and outreach efforts at Elite Terrace.
From Wednesday, members of the public can get updated information on Zika at NEA’s website: www.nea.gov.sg/zika and www.nea.gov.sg/zika-clusters.
This article was first published on September 08, 2016.
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