Zika outbreak in Singapore: Six Bangladeshis tested positive

Dhaka, Sep 1: Six Bangladeshis were tested positive with Zika virus in Singapore, the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore said on Thursday.

"The patients are presented with mild syndromes. They are currently under observation," Mahbub Uz Zaman, High Commissioner of Bangladesh, told The Daily Star.

He said all of them were recovering and the Ministry of Health in Bangladesh was informed of the situation.

According to the US Centre for Disease Control, Zika outbreak in Singapore is worsening fast and it has added the city to its list of Zika-affected countries.

The current Zika outbreak was first detected in Brazil and has since spread across America and the Caribbean.

Pregnant women are considered to be at greatest risk because the virus can cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly, which is marked by small head size and underdeveloped brains.

In Brazil, Zika has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly.

IANS