Zika virus in Singapore likely evolved from Southeast Asia

Praying chemicals to prevent the spread of Zika virus in Singapore. (Source: EPA/VNA)

Singapore (VNA) - The Zika virus behind an outbreak in Singapore was likely evolved from a strain already circulating in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, Singapore’s Ministry of Health said on September 8.

That was the result of an analysis by the Ministry and the National Public Health Laboratory and the Bioinformatics Institute on the Zika virus found in two patients in Singapore.

It has not yet been known that if this newly discovered Zika virus is more or less dangerous that those in South America.

So far, Singapore recorded over 280 Zika virus-infected cases since the first discovery on August 27.

Zika virus is transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus often display symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last from two to seven days.

There is a scientific consensus that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly in newborn babies and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At present, 70 countries and territories around the world have reported Zika cases, including those in the Southeast Asian region.-VNA