Zika re-emerges: First thing new patient did was to inform pregnant neighbour

SINGAPORE – When Simon Place resident Ms Yeoh was informed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (March 28) that she and her husband have been diagnosed with the Zika virus, the first thing she did was to inform her pregnant neighbour and ask her if she wanted to move out for a few days.

The lady living next door, who was three to four months along, moved out on the same day. The couple proceeded to inform the rest of their neighbours so they could take the necessary precautions. 

The area in Hougang where the housewife and her husband, both in their 40s, live became the first Zika cluster reported this year.

Ms Yeoh, who declined to give her full name, told TODAY they first discovered red spots on their hands and neck last Thursday, together with high fevers which reached 38 degree Celsius. That prompted them to visit a 24-hour clinic in Hougang.

“The doctor looked at my spots and suspected that it might be a case of rashes or bacteria infection. But knowing that my area was a high-risk area for dengue, I decided to get screened for dengue and Zika at the polyclinic as well,” Ms Yeoh said.

So when the NEA called her to confirm the Zika diagnosis, she was not surprised as she had already suspected that they were infected either by dengue or Zika. “I had already taken precautions and not left the house ever since going to the doctors,” she said.

Two hours after the call, the agency’s officials were at her apartment for inspection. But she said they did not find any breeding spots or larvae. Due to their area being at high-risk for dengue, Ms Yeoh said they had been taking precautions to ensure that there are no stale puddles of water near their plants or in their home.

Asked how she might have been infected, she suspects she might have been bitten during one of their early morning walks in the neighbourhood with their two poodles.

Although her fever has since subsided, she still feels body aches and experiences slight fatigue. Her husband’s symptoms have also subsided. They now have to monitor their condition for the next six months before they can be considered cleared from the virus.

Far from blaming the couple for the infection, a retiree living in the same apartment complex said he “wasn’t afraid”. The 74-year-old who only wanted to be known as Mr Tan said: "There have been Zika cases reported last year, so it isn't the first time we've heard of it… I don’t think we should blame anyone, we just try to deal with the problem, and of course try our best not to have any breeding spots."

Ms Yeoh said other neighbours have been similarly supportive, with one even making herbal tea for them.

Elsewhere in the area, residents said while they were concerned about the new cluster, they were also not surprised by the resurgence.

Mrs Lee who lives in Kovan Regency said: “There were previous cases in Singapore already, so we were not taken aback.”

She takes precautions like emptying pails and installing an electrical appliance that attracts and kills mosquitoes and flies in her home. “I think in lieu of the fact that we have kids, we are a bit more vigilant and try to take more precautions when new cases spring up in area,” the grandmother of two boys said. 

Another resident living in a private home along Simon Place said she has spotted breeding grounds in the area since last week.

The retiree, who declined to reveal her name, said: “I have seen people burning incense paper in trays and the trays collect water, so I have been reporting and sending pictures to NEA since

Thursday, but there was no response. So I was quite relieved when I saw NEA officers inspecting the area and warning the residents on Tuesday.”

She said: “I think people ought to be more socially responsible, we are all living in a community and we should look out for one another. 

“It’s good that NEA is stepping up fogging efforts and checks, but I hope that people can be more aware and take precautions on their own.”

On Thursday, the NEA stepped up thermal fogging efforts in the area and had officials making inspections. 

Some childcare centres there had also started taking more precautions, such as not allowing children to play around mosquito hotspots and asking parents to provide more mosquito patches for their children. 

The two clinics in the area, Simon Road Family Clinic and Chiew Clinic, in the meantime did not report any cases of Zika in the recent weeks.

“Perhaps the news is still new, and that there are only two cases, I’ve not had any patients asking to be screened for Zika,” said Dr Chua Boon Ling from Simon Road Family Clinic.

As of 3pm on Thursday, no new cases of Zika had been reported, according to the NEA website.