Singapore health ministry confirmed 14 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus on Saturday which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 318.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a joint statement that 7 of the 14 new cases are connected to the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Kallang Way/Paya Lebar Way cluster. One of the remaining cases is linked to the cluster in Bishan St 12, while another case is linked to the Bedok North Ave 3 cluster.
The statement added that out of the five remaining cases, one is linked to a potential new cluster in Circuit Road area in MacPherson. Rest of the four cases has no known links to any existing cluster.
NEA said the vector control operations play the key solution in reducing the spread of the Zika virus. The agency is still continuing with those operations and outreach efforts in the cluster areas Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Paya Lebar Way/Kallang Way/Circuit Road/Geylang East Central/Geylang East Avenue 1; Bedok North Avenue 2/Bedok North Avenue 3/Bedok North Street 3; Joo Seng Road; Bishan Street 12; Elite Terrace and Ubi Crescent.
It will also carry out vector control operations and outreach efforts will also be carried out at Jalan Raya/Circuit Road.
NEA added that a total of 194 breeding habitats have been found and destroyed in the cluster areas as of Sept 9.
According to the agency, the precaution methods are quite similar to its approach to dengue cases and urged the public to be very careful. It has urged "all residents to join in the collective effort in the fight against Zika by doing the 5-step Mozzie Wipeout, removing stagnant water and not littering".
NEA also said outreach activities supporting the Mozzie Wipeout Movement Against Zika will be conducted all over Singapore this weekend.
Members of the public can obtain updated information on Zika and details on current existing clusters at NEA website.
