Potential Zika Cluster at Bedok North Ave 3 and First Case of Pregnant Woman Tested Positive

1.     The Ministry of Health (MOH) has identified a potential cluster of Zika virus infection at the Bedok North Avenue 3 area. MOH was also notified today that a pregnant woman living in the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive area was tested positive for Zika virus infection.

2.     24 new cases were identified today. Of these, 22 were from the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/ Kallang Way/ Payar Lebar cluster. Two cases had no known links to the affected areas. One case lives at Joo Seng Road and the other at Punggol Way. Inaddition, nine cases were detected as a result of MOH’s look-back testing of previous cases.

3.     There is a potential cluster involving three previously reported cases. They are staying at the Bedok North Avenue 3 area. One of the cases works at the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive area while the other two cases had no known links.

4.     MOH was also notified that a pregnant woman living in the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive area was tested positive for the Zika virus today. Her doctor is following up closely with her to monitor her health and the development of her baby. She will be referred to a maternal-foetal medicine (MFM) specialist for counselling and advice.

5.     Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong said, “Over time, we expect Zika cases to emerge from more areas. We must work and plan on the basis that there is Zika transmission in other parts of Singapore and extend our vector control efforts beyond the current affected areas. All Singaporeans can play our part to prevent mosquito breeding.”

6.     Vector control remains the mainstay in reducing the spread of Zika. Our efforts will extend to other parts of Singapore. The National Environment Agency (NEA) will be stepping up its vector control efforts to wider areas.

Vector Control

7.     NEA is continuing with vector control operations to control the Aedes mosquito population in the existing Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive cluster, which now covers about 7,000 premises in Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Paya Lebar Way and Kallang Way. NEA has inspected about 5,500 premises in the cluster for mosquito breeding and conducted ground checks in the vicinity. 45 breeding habitats – comprising 26 in homes and 19 in common areas/other premises – have been detected and destroyed. As of 30 August, NEA has served Notices on more than 500 inaccessible premises in the cluster to require the owners to contact NEA to arrange for an inspection, failing which NEA will proceed with forced entry.

8.     NEA has deployed more than 300 personnel per day comprising NEA officers, contractors and volunteers to carry out vector control operations and outreach from 27 Aug to 30 Aug in the cluster area. NEA officers and grassroots volunteers have completed two rounds of outreach efforts in the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive areas, to distribute Zika information leaflets, and have commenced outreach in the expanded cluster areas in Paya Lebar Way/Kallang Way. We will continue with outreach to raise general awareness of Zika, reiterate the need for source reduction to prevent mosquito breeding and advise residents to apply repellent as precaution.

9.     NEA will also be commencing vector control operations and outreach efforts in Bedok North Avenue 3, comprising more than 6,000 premises. Residents are urged to cooperate fully with NEA and allow its officers to inspect their premises for mosquito breeding and to spray insecticide to kill any mosquitoes. NEA may need to gain entry into inaccessible premises by force after serving of requisite Notices, to ensure any breeding habitats are destroyed quickly.

10.     NEA has activated partner agencies of the Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force to step up localised search and destroy efforts in their respective areas to help reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.

11.     In NEA’s approach to tackling Zika cases, besides conducting checks for mosquito breeding habitats based on Zika cases, we also take a preventive and risk-based approach through pre-emptive checks in areas assessed to be at higher risk, even in the absence of Zika cases. Residents should also do their part to prevent mosquito breeding in their homes.

12.     Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, said, “Vector control remains the primary way to tackle the transmission of Zika. Hence, I urge all residents in affected areas to cooperate fully with NEA officers and allow them to inspect homes so that we can spot and destroy mosquito breeding as soon as possible, and to spray insecticide to kill any mosquitoes. It is also important that everyone in the community takes immediate steps to prevent mosquito breeding in our homes by doing the 5-step Mozzie Wipeout. We can also protect ourselves from mosquito bites by applying insect repellent to curb the transmission of the Zika virus in Singapore.”