http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...singapore-confirmed-to-have-zika/3151442.html
16 pregnant women in Singapore confirmed to have Zika
By Vimita Mohandas Posted 23 Sep 2016 22:49 Updated 23 Sep 2016 23:32
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SINGAPORE: A total of 16 pregnant women have been confirmed to have the Zika virus in Singapore, the Ministry of Health said on Friday (Sep 23), nearly a month since the first locally transmitted Zika case was identified by authorities.
The doctors of the pregnant women are following up closely with them to provide counselling and support.
As of Friday, there are 387 confirmed Zika cases in Singapore, according to data on the National Environment Agency's website.
Responding to queries by Channel NewsAsia, the Health Ministry confirmed that 658 Zika tests were conducted between Sep 7 and Sep 17.
Of these, 297 were for pregnant and or symptomatic individuals who required the test.
The Ministry also added that it is exploring plans to set up a national surveillance programme to monitor the development of babies born to pregnant women with Zika. It added that it is keeping close tabs on the pregnant women who have been notified to have the Zika virus infection.
Early results from a study in Brazil has linked Zika infection in pregnant women with microcephaly in their babies - a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems.
Microcephaly has been tracked by Singapore's national birth defects registry since January 1993.
Between 2011 and 2014, the annual number of microcephaly cases registered with the registry in Singapore ranged from five to 12 per 10,000 live births in Singapore.
There have been no microcephaly cases associated with the Zika virus infection reported in Singapore so far.
- CNA/dt
16 pregnant women in Singapore confirmed to have Zika
By Vimita Mohandas Posted 23 Sep 2016 22:49 Updated 23 Sep 2016 23:32
Email More
A A
SINGAPORE: A total of 16 pregnant women have been confirmed to have the Zika virus in Singapore, the Ministry of Health said on Friday (Sep 23), nearly a month since the first locally transmitted Zika case was identified by authorities.
The doctors of the pregnant women are following up closely with them to provide counselling and support.
As of Friday, there are 387 confirmed Zika cases in Singapore, according to data on the National Environment Agency's website.
Responding to queries by Channel NewsAsia, the Health Ministry confirmed that 658 Zika tests were conducted between Sep 7 and Sep 17.
Of these, 297 were for pregnant and or symptomatic individuals who required the test.
The Ministry also added that it is exploring plans to set up a national surveillance programme to monitor the development of babies born to pregnant women with Zika. It added that it is keeping close tabs on the pregnant women who have been notified to have the Zika virus infection.
Early results from a study in Brazil has linked Zika infection in pregnant women with microcephaly in their babies - a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems.
Microcephaly has been tracked by Singapore's national birth defects registry since January 1993.
Between 2011 and 2014, the annual number of microcephaly cases registered with the registry in Singapore ranged from five to 12 per 10,000 live births in Singapore.
There have been no microcephaly cases associated with the Zika virus infection reported in Singapore so far.
- CNA/dt
