38 new cases of Zika in Singapore, four not in existing clusters
Pest exterminators fumigate a carpark in front of a block of flats in Aljunied on Aug 31, 2016. - EPA
SINGAPORE: There were 38 new cases of Zika confirmed as of noon on Friday (Sept 2), bringing the total number to 189, said authorities.
A total of 34 people live in the Aljunied area, while four have no links to existing clusters, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a joint statement.
Authorities did not reveal where the four who are not in the Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Paya Lebar Way and Kallang Way cluster live.
Of the 189 confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika in Singapore, two are pregnant women.
Besides the Aljunied area, cases have also been found in Bedok North Avenue 3, Joo Seng Road, Punggol Way, Yishun Street 81, Tagore Avenue off Upper Thomson Road and Harvey Crescent near Simei.
NEA has been continuing with vector control operations to control the Aedes mosquito population in the Aljunied cluster.
As of Thursday, 55 breeding habitats - comprising 30 in homes and 25 in common areas - had been detected and destroyed.
In Bedok North Avenue 3, 19 breeding habitats - comprising 12 in homes and seven in common areas - had been detected and destroyed.
Mosquito control measures are ongoing, NEA said.
MP Lee Bee Wah visited residents at Yishun Street 81 to hand out flyers about Zika and give out mosquito repellent on Friday night.
They have found that 70% of breeding grounds are in homes, she said.
"Safety of the residents is most important" she added. - The Straits Times/Asia News Network
