Singapore Closes Zika Area As Virus Dwindles

After finding that no new cases of Zika had been reported in Singapore in two weeks, the Alhunied Cresecent/Sims Drive cluster in the southwest area of the island was declared "closed." However, the National Environment Agency said in a statement that the area will be kept under surveillance until October 31.

Reuters reported that over 400 people had been infected with the Zika virus after the first case was discovered on August 27. Since then, number have increased for The virus, which had been making headlines throughout the Americas and the Caribbean since late last year, was considered a mild disease, posing a major threat to pregnant women as it causes microcephaly to their unborn children. Microcephaly is a birth defect that sees babies born with abnormally small heads.

In a previous report, the first cases were found among foreign construction workers, with a 47-year-old Malaysian woman living in the southeastern area becoming the first case of a local transmission of the said virus. However, none of those who had been infected traveled to Zika-affected areas, confirming that the local transmission of the virus has taken place.

Despite the dwindling numbers in Singapore, however, the global fight is not yet over. In fact, in other parts of the world, the disease is still spreading. NBC News noted that in Florida, the disease has spread enough that Federal health officials have taken it among themselves to make a color-coded map for Miami that indicates where pregnant women should stay out of due to the high number of Zika cases linked in these areas.

BBC News, also reported that Zika-carrying eggs were found near Kent, warning citizens of the Asian tiger-striped mosquito. However, Public Health England said that there had been no evidence of the insects being detected, but that they will continue on monitoring the situation closely.