Singapore logs first Zika virus infection

By Kirsten Han

SINGAPORE

Fumigation and mosquito checks are underway in Singapore after the country logged its first Zika virus infection, local press reported Saturday.

A 48-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident returned from Sao Paolo in Brazil on May 7, and was admitted to hospital and isolated on May 12 after developing fever and a rash. He tested positive for Zika virus on 13 May.

“The patient is currently well and recovering. He will only be discharged upon being tested negative for the Zika virus,” said the Ministry of Health and the National Environmental Agency (NEA) in a joint statement.

Local newspaper The Straits Times reported that fumigation and checks for mosquitoes are being carried out for 800 homes in Watten Estate, where the patient lived.

"NEA officers have been working very hard to conduct intensive fogging of Watten Estate and Arcadia area since last night. They have completed all the public areas. We now need residents to help by opening their homes for inspection and to enable NEA staff to conduct special misting to eliminate all adult mosquitoes and breeding areas,” wrote Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, who is a Member of Parliament for the constituency, on his Facebook page.

At a briefing to the press Saturday morning, NEA said that 35 premises in the area had been inspected for mosquito breeding sites.

Seven sites were identified, and destroyed accordingly, The Straits Times reported.

The authorities will be serving notices on residents living on inaccessible premises to arrange appointments to carry out inspections for mosquito breeding sites.

The Straits Times reported that if these residents do not respond to this request, the authorities might need to gain entry to these premises by force.

The Zika virus is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes mosquito.