SINGAPORE — Boon Lay Place is being monitored by the authorities for potential Zika transmission after one case was reported there in December last year.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Thursday (Feb 22) in a statement that although no more Zika cases have been reported since then, mosquito and wastewater testing has revealed “persistent Zika virus signals” around Boon Lay Place and this suggested that there is ongoing Zika transmission.

The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, which also transmits the dengue virus. It can also be passed from a pregnant woman to her foetus or through sex.

“While MOH and NEA have stepped up precautionary control measures, we cannot rule out the possibility of further cases as most infected persons may display mild or no symptoms,” they said.

“We advise residents in and around the Boon Lay Place area, especially pregnant women, to protect themselves and monitor their health closely.”

Symptoms of a Zika infection include rashes, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headache and conjunctivitis (eye infection). 

Although rare, an infection can cause microcephaly in unborn babies, a condition where a baby's head turns out much smaller than expected.

There are no vaccines or specific antiviral drugs against the Zika virus.

OPERATIONS TO CONTROL TRANSMISSION UNDERWAY

NEA said that since November last year, it has been conducting “intensive vector control operations” at the Boon Lay area where dengue cases were also reported.

This involves indoor spraying of insecticides on residential premises nearby to kill adult mosquitoes, and larviciding in the common areas. Larviciding refers to the regular application of chemical or microbial insecticides to water bodies to destroy mosquito breeding.

The statutory board urged residents to allow NEA officers to inspect their premises and spray insecticide to enable immediate removal of adult mosquitoes.

MOH and NEA also asked residents who reside in areas where there are Zika and dengue clusters to consider taking several precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites:

• Spray insecticide in dark corners around the house 
• Apply insect repellent regularly — with Deet, picaridin or IR3535 as the active ingredient 
• Wear long-sleeve tops and long pants 
• Enclose rooms
• Install wire-mesh mosquito screens to prevent entry of mosquitoes

Men infected with the Zika virus are also advised to practise safe sex or abstain from sex for at least three months after recovery to prevent transmission, while women should abstain from sexual intercourse for at least two months after recovery, before trying to conceive.

Visit www.go.gov.sg/zikaclusters for information on Zika cases and clusters and www.go.gov.sg/zika for the latest health advisory.