Malaysia reports first case of Zika infection, patient stung by mosquito in Singapore

The ailing patient recently returned from Singapore, authorities said on Thursday

A Malaysian woman has been tested positive for Zika virus on Thursday, making it the first case of Zika infection in Malaysia. The ailing patient recently returned from Singapore, authorities said on September 1.

The patient's daughter, who is currently living in Paya Lebar in Singapore, has been also infected by Zika. She is among the five Malaysians working in Singapore who are infected with the virus, according to an official report.

According to The Straits Times, Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said: "We've increased fogging in her neighbourhood, covering a 400-m radius around her house."

Meanwhile, in Singapore, as many as 26 new locally transmitted Zika virus cases have been confirmed in Singapore 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.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. The virus can cause birth defects and can also result in microcephaly. Microphaly is a case where the baby's head is smaller than expected. At present, there is no vaccine for Zika.

This is a developing story

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