Third Zika cluster of the year emerges at Poh Huat Terrace, Terrasse Lane

Today Online 11 Apr 17;

SINGAPORE — The third cluster of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in Singapore this year has been reported at the Poh Huat Terrace and Terrasse Lane area.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (April 11), the case involves two residents living in the area near the junction of Hougang Avenue 2 and Yio Chu Kang Road.

This latest development comes on the day the year's first Zika cluster at the nearby Simon Place was closed. The Simon Place cluster, which is less than 2km away, was first discovered two weeks ago.

The second Zika cluster of 2017, which was reported last week, is also nearby at Flower Road/Hendry Close.

Residents staying around Poh Huat Terrace and Terrasse Lane have been notified of the latest case on Tuesday, and vector control operations are underway, said NEA.

Prior to the latest two cases, NEA officers were already conducting preventive inspections in the vicinity.

Vector control operations will continue at the Flower Road / Hendry Close cluster, NEA said. The Simon Place cluster will also continue to be kept under surveillance.

Residents are requested to allow NEA officers to carry out inspections and indoor spraying of their homes.

NEA also urged all residents and stakeholders to maintain vigilance and take immediate steps to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats by practising the 5-step Mozzie Wipeout.

2 new Zika cases confirmed at Poh Huat Terrace, Terrasse Lane
Channel NewsAsia 11 Apr 17;

SINGAPORE: Two cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection have been confirmed at the Poh Huat Terrace and Terrasse Lane area near Hougang, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (Apr 11).

Both cases are residents in the area, it added.

NEA said it was notified of the cluster on Tuesday and has started operations to kill mosquitoes in the area. It urged residents to let NEA officers carry out inspections and indoor spraying of their homes.

The latest cluster is not far from the two other Zika clusters reported in Singapore this year. The first cluster, at Simon Place, was closed on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after cases there were confirmed. NEA said the area will be kept under surveillance.

The agency is also continuing with operations to control the mosquito population in the Flower Road and Hendry Close area, where two cases were confirmed last Thursday.

It added that even before the latest cluster was notified, "NEA has been conducting preventive inspections in the vicinity to detect and destroy any potential mosquito breeding habitats".

Members of the public are advised to seek medical attention if they are unwell, especially with symptoms such as fever and rash, said NEA.

- CNA/ek