Singapore Zika cases hit 275; new potential cluster at Bishan found

Channel NewsAsia 6 Sep 16;

SINGAPORE: 17 new cases of locally transmitted Zika were confirmed on Tuesday (Sep 6), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Singapore to 275. Authorities added that there is a potential new cluster at Bishan Street 12, involving a previously reported case and a new case today.

In a joint statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) added that, of the 17 new cases, 10 are linked to the Aljunied Crescent / Sims Drive / Kallang Way / Paya Lebar Way cluster.

Apart from the Bishan Street 12 case, the other six cases have no known links to any existing cluster.

NEA said it will be carrying out vector control operations and outreach efforts at the new potential cluster at Bishan Street 12.

The agency added that it has been continuing with vector control operations and outreach efforts in Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Paya Lebar Way and Kallang Way, and that it has expanded operations and outreach efforts at the periphery of this cluster at Circuit Road, Geylang East Central, Geylang East Avenue 1.

As of Sep 5, 65 breeding habitats – comprising 38 in homes and 27 in common areas or other premises – have been detected and destroyed, it said.

The agency added that it is continuing with vector control operations and outreach efforts in Bedok North Avenue. As of Sep 5, 67 breeding habitats – comprising 56 in homes and 11 in common areas and other premises – have been detected and destroyed. Mosquito control measures are ongoing.
NEA said vector control operations and outreach efforts at Joo Seng Road are ongoing. As of Sep 5, two instances of breeding in common areas or other premises have been detected and destroyed.

The agency added that it would continue to work with stakeholders and the community to reduce mosquito breeding, as vector control is key to reducing the transmission of Zika in the community.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told ASEAN leaders at the group's summit in Laos that, given the presence of the Aedes mosquito, Zika may become endemic in the region, like dengue, and called for the 10-member grouping to join hands in fighting a possibly extended campaign against the virus.

- CNA/dt


NTUC Fairprice brings in more anti-mosquito products as demand surges by over 10 times
Today Online 6 Sep 16;

SINGAPORE — Urging customers not to hoard anti-mosquito products and to “buy only what they need for personal use”, NTUC Fairprice announced on Tuesday (Sept 6) that it has placed an additional order for 175,000 packs/bottles/cans/tubes of various types of insect repellents and insecticides.

This quantity is equivalent to about 10 times the normal weekly sales of such items before Zika cases were reported, said NTUC Fairprice.

Delivery of these products will commence in batches from Tuesday till the end of the week, and prices of the products will remain unchanged, it added.

This comes after the discovery of locally-transmitted Zika virus infections in the Republic, which led to an increased demand in anti-mosquito products.

NTUC Fairprice noted a more than ten-fold increase in demand of such products over the past weekend compared to the month before. From Sept 1 to 4, more than 115,000 anti-mosquito products were purchased.

NTUC FairPrice chief executive officer Seah Kian Peng said: “We want to assure the community that additional stocks of anti-mosquito products are being sent to our stores and we will keep prices stable.

“There is no need to stock up as we will continue to bring in more supplies and we urge customers to only buy what they need so that as many households may have access to these products for their personal use.”