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Health Ministry in constant contact with Singapore over Zika case

PUTRAJAYA: Health Ministry is in constant contact with its counterparts in Singapore to further understand the Zika situation, following the first case of a Malaysian woman who was infected by locally-transmitted Zika virus.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry would keep updated with the Singaporean Health Ministry so that it could coordinate prevention and control actions for both countries.

"Malaysia is at a high-risk for the spread of the Zika virus due to a large number of Aedes mosquitoes as its vectors.

"As preparation measures, the ministry has increased the monitoring at both entry points of Johor Baru and distributed flyers on Zika prevention.

"The paramedic unit has also been put on standby in both entry points so that they can do the necessary if the visitors showed symptoms of the Zika virus," he said in a statement, today.

The 47-year-old Malaysian, who lives at Block 102 Aljunied Crescent and works in Singapore, has been confirmed to be infected by Zika.

Three suspected Zika cases were also reported among those who live and work in the same area.

As she had not travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, she was likely to have been infected in Singapore.

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