Fox News : reported that Singapore confirms two new cases of Zika virus

Singapore has confirmed two cases of locally transmitted infections of the Zika virus in a northeastern part of the city state, the National Environment Agency said on Wednesday, describing it as the first Zika cluster of 2017. Singapore had already reported six cases in the first 12 weeks of this year, the agency's website shows. "Both cases are residents in the vicinity and from the same household," the agency said in a statement. Last year, more than 400 people became infected with the virus, following discovery of the first case in August. There is no preventive treatment against Zika, but drug companies are rushing to develop a vaccine.

Two cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus infection reported at Simon Place

Most people infected with the Zika virus do not develop symptoms, which heightens the risk of a Zika resurgence as it may take some time before a reintroduced Zika virus is detected. Two cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus infection in Singapore have been confirmed at Simon Place. According to National Environment Agency (NEA), both cases are from residents in the vicinity and from the same household. The Zika cluster was notified on Tuesday (28 March) and vector control operations are being carried out in the vicinity. NEA also urges all residents and stakeholders to maintain vigilance and take immediate steps to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats.

Study demonstrates how Zika virus rewires and repurposes invaded cells

Explore further: Immune molecule protects against Zika virus infection in animal models Transmission electron microscope image of negative-stained, Fortaleza-strain Zika virus (red), isolated from a microcephaly case in Brazil. Zika virus emerged as a public health threat in the western hemisphere in 2015. To survive and produce new copies, Zika virus takes control over the cells it infects. The first group was infected with Zika virus and the second, control group, was not infected.


collected by :Sandra Alex
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