SINGAPORE - The best response to the Zika virus is to eradicate the mosquitoes and their breeding grounds, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean during a walkabout in Pasir Ris to raise awareness about the mosquito-borne disease.
While this requires a concerted effort, people in Singapore should try to live life as normally as possible, said Mr Teo on Saturday (Sept 3).
"The most important thing is to deal with Zika in an appropriate manner...which is good collection of information, dissemination of information, and attacking the problem, which is to attack the mosquitoes and their breeding grounds," he said.
He added that the approach is similar to preventing dengue, except that for pregnant women, they should take particular precautions.
While most who are infected with the Zika virus have mild symptoms, it has been linked to microcephaly and brain damage in babies whose mothers contract the disease during pregnancy.
Control operations such as fogging and oiling drains have been ongoing in Zika hot spots Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Paya Lebar Way and Kallang Way.
Inspection and control measures have also been taking place in Bedok North Avenue 3 and other areas where cases were reported.
As of Friday, 189 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus were confirmed in Singapore. Two pregnant women have been infected so far.
