Singapore residents in Zika cluster not panicking
A National Environment Agency officers goes door to door at Block 53 Sims Places, as fumigation takes place. Photo: Nicholas Yong
Residents in the Aljunied Crescent and Sims Drive area, where 41 cases of locally-transmitted Zika virus have been detected, are seemingly unperturbed by the outbreak.
Homeowners whom Yahoo Singapore spoke to said they were assured by the government’s moves to tackle the virus, and that they were also on guard against mosquitoes and stagnant water.
Fumigation took place at the Sims Drive area on Monday (29 August), and over the weekend at Aljunied Crescent. Residents also reported that National Environment Agency staff and grassroots activists have handed out insect repellents and flyers containing information on the virus.
Auditor Ben Wong, 26, said his family inspected their Geylang East Ave 1 home for stagnant water on Sunday. “The MP was in the neighborhood on Sunday, and I think the government is fast to respond. They are taking steps to monitor the situation and are already taking precautionary actions.”
A bottle of insect repellent and a Zika flyer handed out by authorities. Photo: Sharlene Maria Sankaran
Over at Aljunied Crescent, Perline Chee, 45, also said she was satisfied with the government’s efforts. Chee, who lives with her 80-year-old mother and works in sales, said, “On Saturday, NEA came and sprayed insecticide on the plants in front of our house. The RC volunteers also passed us insect repellent. The government is working very fast to fight Zika, and I am very satisfied with their help.”
Financial consultant Peter Yang, 48, who lives in Paya Lebar Way, said, “It’s just a virus. We are already protected, we have bought insurance, and the government is doing something about it. It’s just like dengue, so it should be okay.”
Nevertheless, some residents like research assistant Amin Shaik, 30, expressed concern. Shaik had just gone to Sims Drive Medical Clinic with complaints of fever and back ache, “and the doctor told me that I have two out of six of the Zika symptoms”, he said.
As if to confirm his fears, five patients at the clinic showing such symptoms were sent on Monday to the Communicable Diseases Centre for further tests on their condition.
And while Shaik felt that authorities are responding “very well” to Zika, he admitted, “I am actually quite worried about Zika because I never thought it would come to Singapore.”
Additional reporting by Sharlene Maria Sankaran
