After a day of respite, Singapore has again confirmed 8 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 341.
According to the updated information obtained from the National Environment Agency's website, four of the new cases are linked to the Aljunied/Sims Drive cluster, while the other four are not linked to any of the known clusters.
On Tuesday, the authorities said that no new cases were reported. This happened for the first time since the first case of Zika infection was reported in Singapore on Aug 27.
NEA will still continue to carry out vector control operations and outreach efforts at all the potential clusters like Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Paya Lebar Way, Kallang Way, Bishan Street and other places.
The agency believes that the vector control operations play the key solution in reducing the spread of the Zika virus. It said the precaution methods are quite similar to its approach to dengue cases and urged the public to be very careful.
NEA along with the Ministry of Health will be providing daily updates via NEA's website and the members of the public can obtain updated information on Zika and details on current existing clusters from there.
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947. It can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby.
The virus can cause birth defects and can also result in microcephaly in which the baby's head is smaller than expected. There is no vaccine for Zika at present.
The World Health Organisation said people infected with Zika can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms of Zika normally last for two to seven days.
