IN the latest development to the Zika virus plaguing Singapore and Thailand, Malaysia has recorded the country’s first case of the mosquito-borne disease, its Health Minister said today.
In a statement, minister S. Subramaniam said a 58-year-old woman tested positive for Zika in her urine after she developed a rash a week after her return from Singapore. He said her daughter in Singapore also tested positive.
He added that it is believed that the virus was imported from Singapore since the woman started experiencing symptoms on the same day as her daughter.
Zika has mild effects on most people, but can be fatal for unborn children. Infection during pregnancy can result in babies with small heads — a condition called microcephaly — and other brain defects.
Subramaniam explained that the patient, along with her husband had visited their daughter in Singapore on Aug 19 and returned to Malaysia on Aug 21.
The patient started exhibiting rash symptoms on Aug 28, and she sought medical attention at a private clinic in Klang two days later.
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The private general practitioner who examined the patient diagnosed the woman with a ‘suspected case of Zika’ after reviewing her traveling history to Singapore and her daughter’s confirmed infection on Aug 30.
“On the same day, the patient was referred to Sungai Buloh Hospital and the result of the urine PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test on Aug 31 was found positive for Zika virus. However, the patient’s blood test result is still pending,” Subramaniam said in the statement.
He said the patient’s husband and family members who lived in the same house with her, have yet to show any symptoms of Zika infection, adding the ministry had started vector control activities in the patient’s residential area as well as the places she visited.
“Control activities carried out include eliminating Aedes breeding sites, larvaciding and fogging. In addition, close contacts to the patient will be examined whether they have any fever or other Zika symptoms,” Subramaniam said.
The minister added the Singaporean Health Ministry has also revealed that five Malaysians residing and working in Singapore have been confirmed to be infected with the virus.
The rapid spread of the virus has also prompted the government to step up monitoring on the Aedes mosquito which is the carrier of the disease, as well as ramping up the preventitive measures.
“Malaysians, must focus on cleaning the Aedes breeding places, protect themselves from Aedes mosquito bites and seek early medical attention if they have signs such as fever, rash and conjunctivitis,” he said.
“From the first reported case of Zika, we can conclude that it is rather easy to get infected by the virus when visiting places that has outbreak, including Singapore.”
Meanwhile, neighboring Indonesia is screening travelers from neighboring Singapore for the virus as the city-state reports a growing number of infections and its first case of a pregnant woman testing positive.
Indonesian Health Ministry spokesman Oscar Primadi said Thursday that health officials are recommending that the Foreign Ministry issue an advisory against travel to Singapore.
Singapore issued a statement on Wednesday evening saying it had identified 22 new Zika cases and its first case involving a pregnant woman. Doctors believe the virus can cause serious developmental disorders in unborn children.
Primadi says thermal imaging equipment to detect abnormal body temperatures was installed at eight Indonesian ports with routes serving Singapore including Jakarta’s airport.
Additional reporting from the Associated Press
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