Isolation of Zika cases to end from Tuesday: MOH
File photo of fumigation being carried out at a block of flats in the Aljunied area: Yahoo Singapore/Nicholas Yong
Suspected Zika cases are no longer required to be isolated while waiting for test results as of from Tuesday (6 September), said the Ministry of Health (MOH).
As the cases of Zika in Singapore have been mild so far, confirmed cases are no longer needed to be hospitalised unless medically indicated, MOH said in a statement on Monday (5 September).
From Wednesday (7 September), MOH will extend subsidies for the Zika test to all Singaporeans with Zika symptoms.
For subsidised patients at public healthcare institutions, they will pay a subsidised rate of $60 if they have Zika symptoms. Patients who need the test but cannot afford it can approach a medical social worker for assistance, such as from Medifund, MOH said.
As of noon on Monday (5 September 2016), there are three clusters and 16 cases with no known links to other cases and clusters.
MOH said it expects Zika cases to emerge in more areas over time given the presence of the Aedes mosquitoes here.
Currently, all suspect cases of Zika infection are isolated in hospitals while awaiting confirmation of their blood test results.
As more cases emerge, there is evidence that there is transmission in the community with the presence of infected mosquitoes, MOH said. Most of the patients also do not display symptoms. As such, isolation of patients with symptoms has limited effect, it added.
Zika is generally a mild disease, and patients typically recover within four to seven days. However, Zika virus infection can have more serious implications for a pregnant woman, as the virus can cause microcephaly in a small number of unborn foetuses.
For pregnant women, Zika tests will be made more affordable and accessible. For those who have Zika symptoms or whose male partner is Zika-positive, the public sector laboratories will continue to extend free Zika tests to patients at the public healthcare institutions, as well as those at private hospitals and clinics.
