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Singapore handling Zika outbreak ‘well’: WHO representative

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(Photo: Associated Press)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been working with Singapore to manage the Zika outbreak, through information sharing and technical consultation.

Dr Graham Harrison, the WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, said that the Republic has not requested any in-country support from the WHO.

Responding to e-mail queries from Yahoo Singapore on Friday (2 September), Dr Harrison, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, said: “From the WHO perspective and assessment of the current situation so far, the Singaporean authorities have good capacity and are handling the current situation well; and we expect that they will continue to be able to handle the local situation well themselves with the current level of support from WHO.”

There are currently 151 locally transmitted Zika cases in Singapore, including two pregnant women. The main Zika cluster is concentrated in Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive, while more cases have been discovered in Bedok North Avenue 3, Tagore Avenue, Yishun Street 81 and Harvey Crescent.

Dr Harrison added that the WHO is ready to support the Singapore government as needed, either with in-country assistance through the deployment of technical experts or providing advice on very specific technical matters.