Zika : Thailand checks pregnant women

For the first time, Thailand has revealed the scale of its Zika problem.

After health experts urged authorities to be more transparent about the Zika threat, Thailand’s health ministry confirmed it has recorded 200 cases Zika since January.

“Since January, we have recorded about 200 cases and over the past three weeks, we have confirmed an average of 20 new cases per week,” Ministry of Public Health spokesman Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai told Reuters.

Although he gave few specifics, Suwannachai said the rate of infection is ‘stable.’

“People shouldn’t be scared to visit provinces affected by the Zika virus,” Suwannachai said.

Health officials intimated they had been reluctant to publish figures earlier due to the impact on tourism.

Thailand said it has found no cases of microcephaly linked to Zika infections and is monitoring about 20 pregnant women.

Meanwhile Singapore announce another eight cases of Zika, taking the total to more than 340 since the first case was discovered in late August.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Sophon Mekthon said even though the Zika outbreak has not expanded to other parts of the country, it is important for everyone to ensure mosquito breeding habitats are destroyed.

Out of 33 infected pregnant women, eight have given birth to healthy babies. The remaining 25 women remain under close medical attention. Dr. Sophon has urged all provinces to do their best to prevent a Zika outbreak.