Singapore has always been generally a safe country to live in with many professionals and experts in respective industries doing their part to keep Singapore secure and protected.
However, recent news like the haze that clouded the Singapore air prevented citizens from a clean bill of health. Though prevention of the issue has been in the works for years, the spread of filthy air from forest fires still arrived in our island.
Another issue that was marked as urgent importance in prevention was none other than the Zika Virus. Unfortunately, the Zika Virus arrived in Singapore recently and the first case of the transmitted virus has started to spread.
Started out at Aljunied Crescent, Block 102 to a Malaysian woman who was working in Singapore, she mentioned that she did not travel to any Zika-affected countries but was tested positive for the virus at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Symptoms of the virus were similar to other mosquito-borne viruses like dengue which would lead the victim to suffer from rashes, fever, joint pain and headache. Though there are no vaccines or medicines available for the Zika Virus now as the disease was recently discovered, doctors have been treating victims with available medication for fever and pain.
Although infected adults are able to treat themselves with medicines that are available, unborn babies were not so fortunate. These babies run the risk of being born with abnormally small heads if their mothers got into contact with the Zika Virus while pregnant and this has led many mums-to-be to start to freak out from the news.
One pair of worried parents for their unborn child was Mastika Yacoob and Kohodai Dada. Living in Block 102, the same block that had Singapore’s first victim suffering from the Zika Virus, their worlds were launched into an anxious and flustered situation. Mastika took no chances for 3 months when she found out she was pregnant and constantly protected her child from Dengue by making sure that she had a mosquito patch on her at all times.
Now, she is worried again as the dangers placed at risk against her baby was here once more. When told about the Zika Virus and its first case being reported in the very block that she was staying at, she masked no expressions and was stunned as she responded with one hand on her stomach, ‘Here? In our block? That is scary. It’s something I’ve always been fearful of.’
Afraid of the serious threat that could lead to their child having birth defects, the couple said that they will be purchasing mosquito patches and insect repellent from the nearby 24-hour supermarket immediately. The husband mentioned that they always hear about the Zika Virus on television but this is a different thing altogether after knowing that someone in the very block that they lived in is infected. It makes the problem that much closer to home.
At another household in the same block, stands another worried family expecting a baby. Housewife Premavathi R who is currently 3 months pregnant was unaware of the Zika Virus’s dangers but was shocked after her husband, Vasanthan N explained to her about the threat and that one of their neighbours was infected. When being interviewed, she said that their house was always kept clean but now they’re considering buying insect repellent for the family and unborn child.
Though the Ministry of Health and National Environmental Agency have raised precautionary measures, they expect that there may be more cases as infected victims show mild to no symptoms. With a current amount of 41 people infected with the Zika Virus, 34 have since been fully recovered while the other 7 is said to be recovering in the hospital.
The MOH and NEA are working together in testing residents living in the area for symptoms to reduce further spread as well as fogging in different locations. Those who are feeling unwell and are suffering from the Zika Virus’s symptoms are highly encouraged to visit their doctors for medical attention.
Here are some tips on what you can do to prevent Zika Virus from spreading to your home:
1. Prevent mosquito bites by
– using insect repellent
– wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants
– use screens on windows and doors
– repair any holes in the house
– use air conditioning when available
– sleep under a mosquito bed net
– throw out items that hold waters to prevent the laying of mosquito eggs
2. Avoid any plans for travel in the time being
– if need be, check travel notices and plan to go locations that are non-Zika affected.
3. Protect yourself during sex
– Decrease the number of times to have sex as it will eliminate the risk
– Use protection to reduce the chance of Zika Virus
4. Isolate yourself if you find yourself having symptoms of the virus
– During the 1st week of infection, the Zika Virus is found in the blood and can be passed from the infected victim to another mosquito before it goes on to bite others spreading the virus.
Featured Image: straitstimes.com
This article was first published on goodyfeed.com.
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