简体中文
The clinic that discovered Singapore’s first local Zika case saw five more suspected cases on Monday (Aug 29).
Sims Drive Medical Clinic told reporters that the five patients, including some foreign workers, were sent to the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) for further testing after having had their blood and urine samples taken.
Meanwhile, the authorities are stepping up efforts to control the mosquito population in the Aljunied Crescent and Sims Drive area as residents in Singapore's first Zika cluster take precautions to keep the mozzies at bay.
This comes a day after news broke that the neighbourhood was a cluster for 41 locally transmitted Zika cases.
Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling, who represents part of the affected area, told reporters on Monday that her team has compiled a list of about 10 residents who are expecting, in order to tailor outreach to meet their needs.
"I can fully understand and sympathise with how pregnant ladies must be feeling at this moment," she said.
"We are also working with the gynaes operating within the area to see how we can share information about Zika so that pregnant ladies have a better understanding of the signs and symptoms and what they can do should they observe these symptoms developing," said Ms Tin.
Zika infections during pregnancy have been linked to microcephaly and other foetal brain defects. The virus, which has no vaccine and no cure, can also cause still births. Pregnant women have been told to avoid mosquitoes and abstain from unprotected sexual intercourse.
Ms Tin was speaking outside an obstetrics and gynaecology clinic in Aljunied Avenue 2, near Aljunied Crescent.
Ms Tin added that the authorities are working to eradicate any potential mosquito breeding sites.
Exterminators accompanied by National Environment Agency (NEA) officers were seen carrying out fogging operations in the area on Monday morning.
A joint press release on Sunday from NEA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) advised residents, workers, and students in the area to take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes. Dengue prevention banners in the neighbourhood also encourage residents to destroy mosquito breeding sites, and to use insect repellent and insecticide.
(THE STRAITS TIMES)
