Bishan no longer active Zika cluster

SINGAPORE — Bishan Street 12 is no longer an active Zika cluster. 

Bishan Street 12 (Blk 122, 123, 134) is the first cluster to be closed since the first case of locally transmitted Zika virus infection was confirmed on Aug 27.  The cluster was closed on Sept 19, after no new cases were reported there after two weeks, said the National Environment Agency (NEA), as it confirmed two more locally-transmitted Zika cases as at 3pm on Wednesday (Sept 28). 

It will continue to keep the Bishan area, which saw a total of five reported Zika cases, under close surveillance until Oct 10.

The surveillance period accounts for the incubation period of the Zika virus, and the lifespan of the Aedes mosquito, said the NEA. "When a cluster is closed under surveillance, NEA continues to inspect the common areas to remove any potential breeding habitats and carry out premises inspection based on data collected from the Gravitraps deployed."

The NEA urged all residents and stakeholders "to continue to maintain vigilance and keep to a high standard of housekeeping to eliminate all mosquito breeding habitats, as there could still be asymptomatic cases in the area, which might fuel further transmission of the virus if there are mosquitoes in the vicinity".

This brings the total number of active Zika clusters to eight: 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; Elite Terrace; Ubi Crescent; Jalan Raya/Circuit Road; Sengkang Central/Sengkang East Avenue and Hougang Ave 7.

Out of thee eight clusters, seven have not seen cases with onset date in the past one week or more. When there are no cases with onset dates within the last two weeks at these clusters, they will also be closed under surveillance, said the NEA.

The NEA pointed to a drop in the number of cases notified at the Aljunied Crescent cluster — from more than 20 cases a day at its peak to approximately two cases per day over the last two weeks.

There is now a total of 396 locally transmitted Zika cases.