Selangor woman returning from S’pore confirmed contracting the disease, public asked to take precautions
Passengers arriving at Kuching International Airport (KIA) yesterday. The Health Department has started its thermal screening at KIA as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of Zika virus to the state. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Malaysia registered its first Zika virus case on Wednesday when a 58-year-old woman tested positive for the disease.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam in a press statement yesterday said the woman who lives in Bandar Botanic, Klang in Selangor had sought
treatment at a private clinic in Klang when she suffered from rash a week after returning from Singapore.
The woman is the mother of a female confirmed with Zika in Singapore.
She and her husband had visited their daughter in Singapore on Aug 10 and returned to Malaysia on Aug 21.
Dr Subramaniam said the woman started exhibiting symptoms of rash on Aug 28, and she sought medical attention at a private clinic in Klang on Aug 30.
“As the patient had travelled to Singapore and her daughter was confirmed to have Zika virus infection on Aug 30, the private general practitioner had diagnosed her as ‘suspected case of Zika’.
“On the same day, the patient was referred to Sungai Buloh Hospital and the result of the urine PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test on Aug 31 was found positive for Zika virus. However, the patient’s blood test result is still pending.”
He believed the woman could have been infected in Singapore because she started to experience signs of Zika infection on the same day as her daughter in Singapore.
He said she was undergoing treatment at the hospital, and was now rehabilitating.
He also said the patient’s husband and family members who live in the same house with her have not shown any symptoms of Zika infection.
As prevention, he said the Ministry of Health (MOH) had started vector control measures in the woman’s home and places in Klang district and Kuala Lumpur she had visited after returning from Singapore.
“Control activities carried out include eliminating Aedes breeding sites, larvaciding and fogging. In addition, close contacts of the patient will be examined whether they have any fever or other Zika symptoms.”
Dr Subramaniam said information obtained from the Ministry of Health Singapore revealed that five Malaysians residing and working in Singapore had also been confirmed to be infected with the Zika virus.
He added that from Aug 27 to Aug 31, there had been 115 confirmed Zika cases reported in Singapore.
“Due to the rapid spread of the Zika virus, Aedes monitoring and preventive activities are continuously performed and intensified in all states, especially in the state of Johor and Singapore.”
Asked whether the ministry would issue an advisory on travel to Singapore, Dr Subramaniam said there was no necessity for that as it would have other implications.
“About 200,000 Malaysians travel to and from Singapore daily. They have been advised to take preventive measures, including applying mosquito repellents as often as possible,” he said.
He also said Malaysians driving to and from Singapore had been advised to spray mosquito repellents in their vehicles to prevent the insects from being inadvertently brought into Malaysia.
“We have also advised pregnant women to seek clarification from medical specialists as the disease poses a high risk to their babies,” he said.
He advised Malaysians to rid their houses and compounds of Aedes breeding places, protect themselves from Aedes mosquito bites and seek early medical attention if they have signs such as fever, rash and conjunctivitis.
“From the first reported case of Zika, we can conclude that it is rather easy to get infected by the virus when visiting places that have outbreak, including Singapore.”
Dr Subramaniam said MOH has at least 16 medical centres nationwide besides the private laboratories with facilities to detect Zika virus.