Singapore's National Environment Agency announced said on Friday that two new cases of locally transmitted Zika have been confirmed at Parry Avenue at the Serangoon Garden area. According to reports, both cases are residents in the vicinity.
NEA said that it has started operations to destroy mosquito breeding spots at the cluster area. "Residents and stakeholders are urged to maintain vigilance and continue to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats, as there could still be asymptomatic or mild, undiagnosed cases which might result in further transmission of the virus if there are mosquitoes in the vicinity," NEA added.
The authorities said that it had been conducting preventive inspections in the area before the cluster at Parry Avenue was notified. NEA also said that Zika information leaflets and insect repellents will be distributed to households.
The authorities advised the residents to be vigilant and apply mosquito repellent as a precaution. NEA advises members of the public to seek medical attention if they are unwell, especially with symptoms such as fever and rash.
In late April, two locally transmitted Zika cases were reported at the nearby Kovan area.
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947. It can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. Zika virus can cause birth defects and can also result in microcephaly in which the baby's head is smaller than expected.
In cases of adults, Zika infections have been linked to a rare neurological syndrome known as Guillain-Barre and other neurological disorders as well.
The World Health Organisation said people infected with Zika can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These Zika symptoms normally last for two to seven days.
There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika infection yet. Companies and scientists are working to develop a safe and effective vaccine for the virus. Zika is commonly said to be a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya.
