Zika in Malaysia: Selangor takes control and preventive measures

The Selangor State Health Department is taking all the appropriate control and preventive measures against the Zika virus since the first case of the viral infection was detected in Klang.

Its director Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan said the department had also been studying and monitoring the places visited by the woman who was confirmed to be infected.

She said preventive and control measures against Zika virus were the same as for dengue, as both diseases were borne by the Aedes mosquito.

Accordingly, Dr Zailan advised those living in the same neighbourhood of the infected woman in Bandar Botanic, Klang to protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes.

"Most importantly, the public must maintain cleanliness of their surroundings to avoid mosquitoes from breeding.

"What's wrong with being obsessed with eliminating mosquito breeding grounds? This is the only way the Zika or Dengue virus can be stopped from spreading," she told Bernama when contacted.

Dr Zailan said the Zika patient currently receiving treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital was in stable condition, and constantly being monitored to ensure she was not bitten by any mosquitoes.

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She also encouraged people to read up more about Zika and dengue to enhance their understanding of the diseases and how to cope with them.

Meanwhile, Selangor Health, Welfare, Women and Family Affairs Committee chairman, Dr Daroyah Alwi in a statement advised the public, especially those with small children to reduce outdoor activities in the early mornings and late evenings at least for the next one week.

She said this was because the aedes mosquitoes were most active during these times, and it was feared that some of them could be carrying the disease.

"The Klang Municipal Council (MPK) and Klang District Health Office have started operations to get rid of mosquito breeding sites as well as conduct fogging," she said.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam on Thursday confirmed that a 58-year-old woman from Bandar Botanic, Klang, was the first case of Zika virus infection in the country.

He said the woman got infected when visiting her daughter in Singapore, who was also confirmed to have contracted the disease.

However, the urine test on the woman's husband tested negative for the virus.