SINGAPORE – Analysis of the Zika virus found in two patients from the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive cluster has revealed that the virus contracted by the pair belongs to the Asian lineage, and likely evolved from a strain that was already circulating in Southeast Asia.
In a joint statement on Saturday (Sep 3), the Health Ministry (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) also clarified that the virus from these two patients was not imported from South America.
The sequencing was completed by a team from the National Public Health Laboratory and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Bioinformatics Institute, who will release more details soon.
The authorities also confirmed 26 new locally-transmitted Zika infections as of noon on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in Singapore to 215.
Of the new cases, 24 are linked to the cluster in Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way. The other two cases are not linked to any existing cluster.
The authorities also said that the ongoing vector control operations in to control the Aedes mosquito population in the Aljunied and Bedok North Avenue clusters are still continuing.
As of Friday (Sep 2), a total of 83 breeding habitats, comprising 49 in homes and 34 in common areas, have been detected and destroyed.
The Straits Times, The New Paper
Two ministers have also urged members of the public to work together in preventing the Zika virus from spreading.
In a Facebook post, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean encouraged members of the public to do their part to keep homes, neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces safe. “To control Zika, the most effective way is to wipe out mosquito breding grounds,” he wrote.
Minister for Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli added that NEA’s five-step mozzie wipeout has outlined simple steps that can be taken to prevent mosquito breeding in homes, such as changing water in vases and bowls and turning over water storage containers.
“If you are feeling unwell, especially with symptoms of fever and rash, please also see a doctor immediately,” he advised.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Malaysia also reported its first locally transmitted Zika infection, and second case overall, on Saturday. The victim, a 61-year-old man from Sabah, died from heart-related complications.
Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA
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