Singapore successfully controls biggest source of Zika virus

Health staff are spraying chemicals killing mosquitoes to prevent the spread of Zika virus. (Source: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) on October 18 announced that Zika virus in the country’s biggest hotspot has been eliminated.

In an announcement, the agency said the control and eradication of Zika virus at Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive in eastern Singapore has been successful, with no new cases of the virus found in the two weeks since operations began on October 9.

However, the NEA made it clear that the area will be monitored until the end of October and called for people and relevant organisations to stay vigilant in mosquito-fighting efforts.

Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive is the area where the first Zika virus case was detected in Singapore on August 27, with 298 out of 400 cases in the country arising from the area.

In the area, the NEA examined indoor and outdoor areas and removed 128 sources of mosquitoes.

The elimination of the Zika virus in Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive was achieved in the context of a decrease of new cases. Out of 400 Zika cases this year, only 11 were recorded last week.

However, the Ubi Avenue 1 and Jalan Chengkak/Jalan Raya areas have recorded new infections, the NEA said.-VNA