SINGAPORE -- A spike in Zika virus infections is worrying Singapore. On top of 41 locally transmitted cases announced over the weekend, the health ministry has confirmed 15 more, bringing the total to 56. The country is heightening the alert level for more infections and the possible negative impact on a slowing economy.
The alarm bell was rung Saturday, when a Malaysian woman living here was confirmed as the first locally transmitted case. The only known case before then was found this May in a person who had returned from Brazil. The Ministry of Health moved swiftly to test 123 people who had recently displayed symptoms, confirming 41 as infected. Since the infected had not traveled to South America or other Zika-epidemic areas, the ministry concluded that there was local transmission of the virus. Fifteen more cases were announced Monday night.
