Zika virus: No bar to visiting Singapore

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 May 2016: 

Although there has been a reported case of the first Zika virus incident in Singapore, the Health Ministry has not issued any restriction to Malaysians to go in and out of the neighbouring country.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, however, advised Malaysians who wished to visit the country to always be alert, especially if faced with symptoms like fever.

He said the government has conducted screening test on 90,000 individuals who have entered Malaysian through Singapore, apart from giving health reminders at all entry points of the Malaysian border.

“The Malaysian and Singaporean governments are always cooperative when doing screening tests on individuals who have visited Latin America countries such as Brazil, Venezuela and others, especially within the period of last week.”

Last Friday, the Zika virus was detected in Singapore when one of its permanent residents after visiting Sao Paolo, Brazil from March 27 – May 7, was found positive with the virus.