A Zika victim’s lament: I’m worried about what future holds

SINGAPORE — She has fully recovered from Zika but personal trainer Daphne Maia Loo is still worried.

Although many perceive Zika as a mild illness, the 33-year-old, who has two auto-immune conditions, is concerned because very little is known about the full or long-term effects of the disease.

“We don’t know the long-term effects,” she said, noting that Zika has been linked to the Guillain-Barre syndrome and auto-immune complications. “We don’t know what triggers auto-immune conditions, but there’s definitely a worry that one will set off another ... I personally get really irritated when people say it’s a mild disease, as we just don’t have enough information on the effects yet.”

Ms Loo added: “Some people say it’s only dangerous for pregnant women, or that the strain here is not as dangerous for pregnant women as that in South America. But how do we know that is the case in the long term? Viruses also mutate, and it could get worse. It is not something we should downplay.”

Ms Loo came down with fever on Sept 2, days after the Ministry of Health confirmed the first locally transmitted Zika cases. The following night, she went to the accident and emergency department at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and was taken to the holding area where suspected Zika patients stayed while waiting for their blood test results.

“I was brought in at about 10pm. It was past midnight by the time they took my blood. I waited till about 8am before they confirmed I had Zika,” she recounted. “It was very uncomfortable while (I was) waiting, as I was only given a chair. Beds were limited, and only those who were very sick got them.”

Ms Loo said she was transferred to a ward in the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) after she tested positive, and stayed there for two days. She has since made a full recovery.

She has agreed to participate in a research programme on the long-term effects of Zika, carried out by the CDC, where she has to return to the centre for blood tests six times over the next two years.

The good thing arising from the spread of Zika, Ms Loo said, was that it has helped raise awareness of the need to control mosquito breeding grounds, which would help to fight dengue as well.

Madam Ratnawati Mohd Yusoff, whose husband Mohammed Firdaus Lim was among the first 40 individuals in Sims Drive diagnosed with Zika last month, said they take extra precautions now, even though they moved to Upper Serangoon last Saturday.

“Every time after he showers, I will spray the repellent on him and paste one mosquito patch on his clothing, too,” said the 52-year-old. Mr Firdaus, 44, is bedridden after suffering a stroke.

“I make sure I do it on myself, too. I mean if he gets bitten, it would already be difficult. But if I’m bitten, then it will be more difficult. Who will take care of him then when I’m sick?”

She added: “With this new house ... the Zika problem becomes less to think about (but) I cannot say that moving away will make me impervious to mosquito bites. I still have to take precautions.” TAN WEIZHEN AND ILIYAS JUANDA