With new cases of Zika continually popping up on our shores, do we have reason to panic?
Well, like the saying goes, Knowledge is power and Prevention is better than cure.
Instead of hiding at home and sealing your windows, you can arm yourself with these information and lower the risks of contracting the virus. Besides, our Zika timeline shows that there’s little to worry about.
Zika timeline in Singapore
Although the virus originated from Africa, it has found it’s way to our shores.
The first case of locally transmitted Zika Virus was jointly announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environmental Agency (NEA) on August 27. That’s exactly one month ago.
There are 387 confirmed cases as of September 23. 16 of which are pregnant women.
Zika clusters in Singapore
Currently, there are 9 known Zika clusters in Singapore.
Starting with Aljunied – which also houses the largest cluster (291 cases), onto more recently, Sengkang and Hougang.
If you want to know more, NEA regularly updates their website with detailed information on existing or new clusters.
The number of cases are on the decline
Although Zika sounds pretty scary, there is no reason to panic!
The number of outbreaks in Singapore have dropped significantly since the initial case on August 27.
From 189 cases during the first week to 19 new cases recorded last week.
This has even led to praise by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the impeccable efforts of Singapore’s transparency and handling of the outbreak.
Still, we shouldn’t let our guard down.
The best way to avoid infection is through prevention. Regular application of insect repellents or avoiding known cluster areas and destinations will help. In short, try to avoid mosquito bites whenever possible.
Even though we can rest assured that the government is taking all necessary steps to contain and prevent the spread of Zika, we should play our part too.
By throwing out stagnant water and reducing places where mosquitoes breed, we can help to lower the risks for everybody. If you are unsure of what to do, the NEA’s initiative 5-Step Mozzie Wipeout is a good place to start.
Header image source : www.newyorker.com, words by author
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