Malaysia confirms first Zika case

Travellers walk past travel advisory on the Zika virus infection and a body temperature scanner in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Aug 28, 2016 (Photo: AP)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia on September 1 reported the first case of Zika virus in the country.

According to Malaysian Minister of Health Subramaniam Sathasivam, the patient is a woman who visited Singapore on August 19-21. She began to exhibit symptoms of fever and rash one week after she returned home from the neighbouring country.

Her daughter, who is living in Singapore, was tested positive with the virus, the minister added.

Singapore on August 27 announced the first case of the mosquito-borne virus. To date, 115 cases have been reported in the city-state, including a pregnant woman.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency is implementing measures to kill Aedes mosquito, which spreads Zika virus, in residential areas where Zika cases have been reported.

The country’s Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said that vector control remains the primary way to tackle the spread of Zika. 

He urged all residents in affected areas to cooperate with health workers and allow them to inspect their homes to spot and destroy mosquitos as soon as possible.

The Zika virus, which has spread through the Americas and the Caribbean since late last year, is generally a mild disease but is a particular risk to pregnant women. It has been linked to microcephaly - a severe birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.-VNA