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04/30/2024 03:51:20 pm

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Travel Notice Issued for Singapore as Zika Virus Infects 56 People

Zika Virus

(Photo : Getty images) Mosquito control inspector uses a Golden Eagle blower to spray pesticide to kill mosquitoes.

Travel notices have been issued to citizens of Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea to cancel any plans of going to Singapore. This move comes after the Zika virus was confirmed to have infected its 56th victim in the city-state.

The notices were mostly directed at women, particularly expectant mothers.

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The Zika virus was first reported in Singapore over the weekend. By the end of the weekend, the number of infected people had risen to 56.

Of the 56 victims confirmed, only one is a woman.

The notices, however, stressed on expectant women because of the effects the virus can have on the unborn child.

The virus has been linked to a rare birth defect known as microcephaly which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and brains. So far, 1,800 cases have been confirmed in Brazil.

The mosquito-borne virus was first detected in Brazil last year. It has since spread across America.

Pregnant women and those planning to get pregnant have been advised to reschedule any plans of traveling to Singapore. Women returning to their country have also been advised to avoid getting pregnant for at least two months.

Singapore's closest neighbors - Malaysia and Indonesia - have enhanced health standards to help prevent and detect the virus. Thermal scanners at airports and border checkpoints.

Most of the victims of the Zika virus in Singapore are said to be foreign workers. But their nationalities have been withheld.

The outbreak has affected the Singapore's tourism sector.

The tourism board of Singapore, however, said that the city-state is still a "safe travel destination." Authorities added that they were monitoring the situation.

Out of the 56 infected people in Singapore, at least 30 had made a full recovery by Monday.

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