As many as 26 new locally transmitted Zika virus cases have been confirmed in Singapore, authorities said on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a joint statement that the total number of confirmed cases in Singapore reached 82, including the 15 cases confirmed on Monday and the 41 cases on Sunday.
The statement said 17 of those infected people live or work in the Sims Drive/ Aljunied Crescent area and five live or work in Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way, north of Sims Drive/Aljunied.
The authorities are investigating the remaining four cases for their links to the affected area.
NEA said it has already taken steps to monitor the situation. The agency inspected almost 5,000 premises out of an estimated 6,000 premises in the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive cluster and conducted ground checks in the vicinity.
Thirty-nine breeding habitats have already been detected and destroyed in this process.
Apart from inspecting homes and their common areas, the agency is also inspecting construction sites and engages dormitory operators.
"The latter plays an important role in helping to prevent and stem Zika transmission in their premises by ensuring a clean and hygienic environment. Some good practices include engaging dedicated pest control operator(s) for mosquito control, ensuring and sustaining proper housekeeping, and ensuring that all workers/residents apply insect repellent regularly," NEA told Channel NewsAsia.
MOH and NEA said that over the last 24 hours, another 111 individuals were tested negative for Zika.
The ministry also urged all pregnant women in Singapore to be tested for the virus if they are having symptoms of Zika.
