The Ministry of Health (MOH) recently confirmed 56 instances of the Zika virus, which were locally transmitted in Singapore.
All the affected individuals are residents or workers in the Sims Drive or Aljunied areas. Majority of the cases are foreign workers, who have been working at a construction site in 60 Sims Drive.
As per reports, 36 of the infected people have recovered fully, while the remaining are still infectious.
The Zika virus spreads via mosquitoes and therefore further transmission among the community is possible.
The MOH is working to ensure effective containment and has issued the following guidelines for managing the virus at workplaces in Singapore:
- Companies should ask employees to monitor themselves for symptoms of the Zika virus, which include red eyes, fever, skin rashes, headaches and joint/muscle pains.
- Individuals should take precautions to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes at home or outdoors. It is important to monitor the presence of mosquitoes and use things like repellents and nets.
- Pregnant employees, as well as their employers, must be especially vigilant with precautions and care.
- Employers must take immediate action to prevent breeding of mosquitoes in the workplace and surrounding areas.
- People who are symptomatic and have either traveled to an affected country in the last 14 days, or live/work in the Aljunied/Sims Drive areas, should get medical attention right away.
The Zika virus is spread through the bite of a species of mosquitoes known as Aedes. This species tends to bite aggressively during the day time, but can also bite at night.
Zika is typically a mild infliction and can cause a viral fever, similar to dengue. However, it is a cause for concern for pregnant women, since it can pass to the fetus and cause birth defects.
At the moment, there is no vaccine for the Zika virus. Have a look at the infographic below for some more details.
