Vehicles entering, exiting Singapore to be sprayed with mosquito repellent: Malaysia

Vehicles leaving and entering Singapore will need to be sprayed with mosquito repellent as part of the measures by the Johor Health Department to fight Zika virus infection. PHOTO: ST FILE

JOHOR BAHRU - Vehicles leaving and entering Singapore will need to be sprayed with mosquito repellent as part of the measures by the Johor Health Department to fight Zika virus infection, Bernama reported on Friday (Sept 2).

"The vehicles we are referring to include lorries, public buses, school buses, private cars and trains. This is to ensure that no mosquitoes with the virus are brought into the country via the vehicles," State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said in a statement in Johor Bahru.

The statement did not specify when the measures would take effect.

The announcement comes as Singapore said on Friday it had found 38 more people who had contracted Zika, raising to 189 the number infected with the mosquito-borne virus since the authorities reported the first locally transmitted case six days ago.

Ayub said the committee viewed the threat as serious as many Singaporeans frequented Johor while 200,000 to 300,000 locals travelled to the republic each day to work, according to Bernama.

The committee has also instructed local authorities and district officers to maintain cleanliness in areas frequented by Singaporeans such as restaurants and entertainment areas, Ayub said.

"The state government will monitor all action plans and the special meeting will be held again on Sept 29 to review the effectiveness of these strategies," he was quoted by Bernama as saying.

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