Singapore Confirms 41 Cases of Local Zika Virus Infection

(Bloomberg) -- Singapore confirmed 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus infection a day after reporting its first and flagging the possibility of more.

Of the 41 infected, 34 have fully recovered, with none having traveled to Zika-affected areas recently, suggesting local transmission, the Straits Times reported Sunday, citing the health ministry and environment agency.

The government said it’d carry out Zika testing on people living and working in the affected zone who have symptoms of fever and rashes. The country will be inspecting residential premises and spraying insecticide to contain the spread of mosquito-borne pathogens responsible for chikungunya and dengue diseases.

While most Zika cases are mild or symptom-free, women infected during pregnancy are at increased risk of giving birth to babies with abnormally small heads, a condition called microcephaly.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jasmine Ng in Singapore at jng299@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Stanley James at sjames8@bloomberg.net, Sam Nagarajan

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