2 Zika cases in Woodlands; NEA says surveillance suggests persistent virus signals in the area , Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Two local Zika cases have been confirmed at Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in conjunction with the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), in a Facebook post on June 19.
Following each case notification, NEA commenced wastewater and mosquito surveillance surrounding the residential areas.
The agency added that enhanced surveillance has revealed persistent Zika virus signals in the area, which suggests that this is an area with likely Zika transmission.
The surveillance is a regular effort by the agency, in a bid to minimise the spread of vector-borne diseases in Singapore.
It most often comes in the form of gravitraps that are placed around Housing Board estates to catch the urban-dwelling and day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread both Zika and dengue.
A check of NEA's website found that three Zika cases have been reported locally since the week of May 25, with the latest being confirmed on June 11.
In total, there have been seven cases reported for 2025 as at June 12.
There were 13 reported Zika cases locally in 2024.
Those who show symptoms suggestive of Zika infections should see a doctor early, advised the NEA.
According to the CDA's website, symptoms of Zika infections include rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, joint pain and headache.
There is no specific treatment for Zika infections, but pregnant patients should seek advice from their obstetricians for further management, the CDA said.
Zika may result in congenital defects in infants born from infected mothers. The child could be born with neurological complications, or microcephaly, where they have a head that is smaller than expected.
To find out more about Zika cases, one can go to go.gov.sg/zikaclusters. They can also go to CDA's webpage (go.gov.sg/zika) for Zika symptoms, prevention and treatment options.
The Straits Times has reached out to NEA and the Ministry of Health for more information.
[[nid:719141]]
This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
Two Zika cases in Woodlands; pregnant women urged to guard against mosquito bites
SINGAPORE: Two Zika cases have been confirmed in Woodlands, and pregnant women in the area are urged to take precautions, said the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Thursday (Jun 19). In a Facebook post, NEA said the cases were found at Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32. NEA also found "persistent Zika virus signals" in the residential areas after wastewater and mosquito surveillance, which it said suggests that the area is likely to have Zika transmission. "We advise residents in the area, especially pregnant women, to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to monitor their health closely," it said. Although rare, Zika virus infection in pregnant women can cause birth defects such as microcephaly, a condition in which the baby's head is much smaller than expected for his or her age, said NEA. It added that those with symptoms suggestive of Zika infections - such as a headache, conjunctivitis or red eyes, fever, rash, joint pain and muscle pain - should see a doctor early. The Zika virus infection is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, similar to the dengue virus. In an advisory on its website, CDA said that those living in Zika-affected areas should take precautions against mosquito bites, including applying an effective insect repellent, wearing clothing that covers most of the body and staying in well-screened or air-conditioned rooms.
AsiaOne
10 hours ago
- AsiaOne
2 Zika cases in Woodlands; NEA says surveillance suggests persistent virus signals in the area , Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Two local Zika cases have been confirmed at Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in conjunction with the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), in a Facebook post on June 19. Following each case notification, NEA commenced wastewater and mosquito surveillance surrounding the residential areas. The agency added that enhanced surveillance has revealed persistent Zika virus signals in the area, which suggests that this is an area with likely Zika transmission. The surveillance is a regular effort by the agency, in a bid to minimise the spread of vector-borne diseases in Singapore. It most often comes in the form of gravitraps that are placed around Housing Board estates to catch the urban-dwelling and day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread both Zika and dengue. A check of NEA's website found that three Zika cases have been reported locally since the week of May 25, with the latest being confirmed on June 11. In total, there have been seven cases reported for 2025 as at June 12. There were 13 reported Zika cases locally in 2024. Those who show symptoms suggestive of Zika infections should see a doctor early, advised the NEA. According to the CDA's website, symptoms of Zika infections include rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, joint pain and headache. There is no specific treatment for Zika infections, but pregnant patients should seek advice from their obstetricians for further management, the CDA said. Zika may result in congenital defects in infants born from infected mothers. The child could be born with neurological complications, or microcephaly, where they have a head that is smaller than expected. To find out more about Zika cases, one can go to They can also go to CDA's webpage ( for Zika symptoms, prevention and treatment options. The Straits Times has reached out to NEA and the Ministry of Health for more information. [[nid:719141]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
2 Zika cases in Woodlands; NEA says surveillance suggests persistent virus signals in the area
The NEA has commenced wastewater and mosquito surveillance in the area. PHOTO: ST FILE 2 Zika cases in Woodlands; NEA says surveillance suggests persistent virus signals in the area SINGAPORE - Two local Zika cases have been confirmed at Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32, said the National Environment Agency in conjunction with the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), in a Facebook post dated June 19. Following each case notification, NEA commenced wastewater and mosquito surveillance surrounding the residential areas. The agency added that enhanced surveillance has revealed persistent Zika virus signals in the area, which suggests that this is an area with likely Zika transmission. Those who show symptoms suggestive of Zika infections should see a doctor early, to be diagnosed and managed accordingly, advised the NEA. To find out more about Zika cases, one can go to They can also go to CDA's webpage ( for Zika symptoms, prevention and treatment options. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
