Zika has arrived in Singapore

[skyleon]

Analysis shows virus strain of locally transmitted Zika cases has been in South-east Asia since 1960s

Published 4 hours ago


Linette Lai

Chew Hui Min

SINGAPORE - The Zika virus strains for locally transmitted cases and that of a case imported from Brazil in May are different, the authorities said on Thursday (Sept 8).

The Zika virus strain found in the recent cases at the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive cluster is similar to strains of the virus circulating in South-east Asia since the 1960s, it was announced at a briefing by the Ministry of Health's National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and A*Star's Bioinformatics Institute (BII) on Thursday.

The virus subsequently spread to French Polynesia in 2013 and to Brazil in 2015, they said.

On the other hand, the virus strain from a case imported to Singapore in May was similar to strains currently found in South America.

While both virus strains are of the Asian lineage, analysis suggests that the locally transmitted virus strain belongs to an earlier varietal, and was not recently imported from South America.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...outh-east-asia

[skyleon]

Insect repellent at community clubs for pregnant women

Published 2 hours ago


Chew Hui Min

SINGAPORE - Pregnant women will be able to get free insect repellents at all community clubs in Singapore from Saturday (Sept 10), said the People's Association (PA).

This will allow them to quickly get their hands on insect repellents, which are in high demand now, even if retailers run out of stock.

"While we have stepped up our efforts to rally the community to work together to eradicate Zika at source, we also wanted to do more for our mums-to-be. We have quickly worked with the relevant agencies to secure insect repellents for them," said chief executive director of the PA Ang Hak Seng.

The PA said it has worked with the National Environment Agency and Ministry of Health to secure 30,000 bottles of 30ml travel-sized insect repellents.

Pregnant women who are unable to purchase insect repellents through the retail stores can collect one bottle of repellent spray at any community club.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...pregnant-women

[skyleon]

New cluster at Ubi Crescent; 292 cases of Zika in Singapore

Published 1 hour ago


Chew Hui Min

SINGAPORE - Another new potential cluster of Zika infection may be forming in the Ubi Crescent area, the authorities said on Thursday (Sept 8).

As of noon on Thursday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed nine new cases of locally transmitted Zika. With the new cases, the number of cases in Singapore has reached 292.

One more case was linked to Bishan Street 12, and one to Elite Terrace, which was highlighted as a potential cluster on Wednesday.

There are now three cases at Elite Terrace and four at Bishan Street 12.

Four were linked to the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Kallang Way/Paya Lebar Way cluster.

Two cases have no known links to any existing cluster, MOH said.

The ninth case is linked to the potential new cluster in Ubi Crescent. Including two earlier cases, there are now three linked to the industrial area in Eunos.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...a-in-singapore

[skyleon]

Number of Zika cases nears 300, potential new cluster in Ubi Crescent


Published: 7:08 PM, September 8, 2016


SINGAPORE — There were nine new cases of locally transmitted Zika infections recorded as of noon on Thursday (Sept 8), bringing the total number to 292, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a statement.

In addition, there is a potential new cluster in the Ubi Crescent area. involving two previously reported cases and a new one.

Of the nine new cases, four are linked to the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive/ Kallang Way/ Paya Lebar Way cluster, one is linked to the Bishan Street 12 cluster, and another is linked to the Elite Terrace cluster discovered on Wednesday.

The NEA has said that it will be carrying out vector control operations and outreach efforts at Ubi Crescent. It will also continue with vector control operations and outreach efforts in existing clusters

As of Wednesday, a total of 166 breeding habitats have been found and destroyed in the cluster areas, of which 108 are from homes, and 58 from outdoor areas, added the NEA.


continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...r-ubi-crescent

[skyleon]

Swell in demand for mosquito-repelling plants

Nurseries say more people want mosquito-repelling plants

Sep 8, 2016 6:00am



By JUDITH TAN


Plant nurseries are reporting an increase in demand for plants that are touted to have mosquito repellent properties.

Several nurseries The New Paper approached said that more people are asking about and looking for the citronella grass since news of the Zika virus being locally transmitted here broke late last month.

Sales and marketing director of Far East Flora Peter Cheok declined to reveal sales figures, but said the company had to "more than double the usual order" for mosquito-repelling plants.

It had a "few pots left" when TNP called earlier in the week. By Wednesday, it was stocking new plants.

Meanwhile, commercial repellent products are increasing using plant-based ingredientsas they are commonly perceived as "safe" and therefore popular among consumers.

Other mosquito-repelling plants include rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint and lemon balm.

Ms Joeann Chua, director of Hua Hng Trading, a wholesaler for plants and landscaping materials, said sales for Pelargonium graveolens, commonly referred to as the "mosquito plant", were "higher than normal".



continue reading here : http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-new...pelling-plants

[skyleon]

Originally Posted by thomasdelaruue

shld cut grass,n let it dry.
Then burn grass.
Cheap way of fogging

Are you okay or not ? Burn grass you will be creating more haze . After that you need to plant grass again incurring more wasteful public expenses .

The best way is to kill the Aedes mosquitoes and don't let them breed . Everyone should do their part .

[thomasdelaruue]

grass too long town council will ask worker cut it.
Use to buy lemon grass powder from tibetan shop.
No more stock.
Now use 艾草,
Burn with kemayan cone.
Supplies from ,malaysia limited

[thomasdelaruue]

in spore just keep buying follow the crowd.
Until run out of stock.
alternative chinese medical oil contain critonella.

[oldslywolf]

Soon the whole of Singapore will be infected by Zika .

[thomasdelaruue]

Originally Posted by oldslywolf

Soon the whole of Singapore will be infected by Zika .

now east only, aljunied bedok silap.
Maybe next month pasir ris
Changi..touch wood. hope not.

[skyleon]

12 new cases of Zika in Singapore; total number now 304

Published 37 min ago


Chew Hui Min

SINGAPORE - The number of cases of locally transmitted Zika cases topped 300 as the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed another 12 cases as of noon on Friday (Sept 9).

There are 10 new cases linked to the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Kallang Way/Paya Lebar Way cluster, and one linked to the Elite Terrace cluster.

One other new case has no known links to any existing cluster.

The total number of Zika cases is now 304.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that vector control operations are continuing in all areas where cases have been found.

They include Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Paya Lebar Way/Kallang Way/Circuit Road/Geylang East Central/Geylang East Avenue 1; Bedok North Avenue 2/Bedok North Avenue 3/Bedok North Street 3; Joo Seng Road; Bishan Street 12; Elite Terrace and Ubi Crescent.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...total-over-300

[skyleon]

Originally Posted by thomasdelaruue

grass too long town council will ask worker cut it.
Use to buy lemon grass powder from tibetan shop.
No more stock.
Now use 艾草,
Burn with kemayan cone.
Supplies from ,malaysia limited

Do you know what you are talking about or not ? Cutting long grass is a regular maintanence job done by the town council management agent . It has nothing to do with the Zika crisis or dengue crisis .

People want to buy up to them since they got money . Whether it proved effective or not that is another question . The fact that people are buying shows that they don't have confidence in the MIW in solving this crisis . The MIW wold rather spent time fixing the opposition town council .

[skyleon]

14 new cases of Zika in Singapore; potential new cluster at Jalan Raya, Circuit Road area


Published 30 min ago


Chew Hui Min


SINGAPORE - There were 14 new cases of Zika in Singapore as of noon on Saturday (Sept 10), the Health Ministry said.

A potential new cluster was found at Jalan Raya/ Circuit Road area, involving one previously reported case and a new case from Saturday.


Seven of the new cases were found in the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive/Kallang Way/Paya Lebar Way cluster.

One is linked to the Bishan Street 12 cluster and one case to the Bedok North Avenue 3 cluster.

Another four cases have no known links to existing clusters. This brings the total number of locally transmitted cases of Zika to 318.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is continuing with vector control operations and outreach efforts in the cluster areas, including: Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive/ Paya Lebar Way/ Kallang Way/ Circuit Road/ Geylang East Central/ Geylang East Avenue 1; Bedok North Avenue 2/ Bedok North Avenue 3/ Bedok North Street 3; Joo Seng Road; Bishan Street 12; Elite Terrace and Ubi Crescent.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...cuit-road-area

[skyleon]

Govt to address Zika issue in Parliament on Tuesday

Published: 4:00 AM, September 10, 2016

SINGAPORE — The Government will address the Zika issue when Parliament sits at noon on Tuesday, as the number of cases continues to increase.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli are expected to deliver ministerial statements on tackling the Zika outbreak.

Twelve parliamentary questions related to the outbreak and mosquito breeding were tabled by Members of Parliament (MPs), among them Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson), who asked if free Zika screenings could be offered to residents of affected areas and what support would be given to pregnant women suspected of being infected with the virus.

Non-Constituency MP Daniel Goh asked what was being done to better manage the health of workers living in dormitories and on construction sites, while Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling Yew-Tee GRC) has asked if the Ministry of Health would consider setting up a National Zika Registry.


continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...iament-tuesday

[thomasdelaruue]

looking at ,spore map on mossie zika cluster.
West is less affected.
West more industry air water pollution,
Not sure got any coorelation.