Malaysia confirms Zika case, safety steps in place

The 58-year-old woman had showed signs of a rash and fever one week after returning from Singapore, according to Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam. 

“We are carrying out control measures against aedes mosquitoes near the woman’s home to prevent the spread of the virus,” he said at a news conference, adding that the virus was discovered in the woman’s urine sample. Subramaniam initially said the woman’s “child” had also tested positive for Zika in Singapore. He later clarified that the child was in fact an adult daughter who is working in Singapore and has not returned to Malaysia. 

Subramaniam said they have already intensified vector control activities in Taman Botani in Klang, where the infected woman’s home is located, and urged residents to allow officers despatched to the area to enter their homes and carry out fogging and larvicidal spraying. Singapore announced the first locally contracted case of Zika late on Saturday, and the number of diagnosed infections has grown steadily this week. Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Singapore had been informed by the island state’s health ministry that 21 Chinese nationals in the country are confirmed to have been infected with Zika. Also, six Bangladeshi nationals have been tested positive with the mosquitoborne Zika virus in Singapore.