Singapore confirms 27 new cases of Zika infection, bringing total to 242

The number of locally transmitted Zika cases stands at 242 on Sunday (Sept 4), one week since the outbreak was first reported in Singapore.

This is up by 27 from 215 cases on Saturday.

Twenty-five of the new cases are from the initialAljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Kallang Way/ Paya Lebar Way cluster, while one is from a potential new cluster in Joo Seng Road where a previous case was found.

The last of the new cases has no known links to any cluster.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that, as of Saturday, it has destroyed 62 breeding habitats in the Aljunied cluster and 39 breeding habitats in Bedok North Avenue.

NEA will continue with its mosquito control and outreach efforts in those areas, as well as at the potential Joo Seng Road cluster.

As the number of Zika cases climbs, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is reviewing its practice of isolating suspected and confirmed Zika patients, Senior Minister of State for Environment and Water Resources and Health Amy Khor said earlier on Sunday.

She said that these patients could be allowed to recuperate at home as long as they take necessary precautions such as applying mosquito repellent.

This would be in line with the government protocol for handling dengue fever.

(THE STRAITS TIMES)