Hong Kong authorities have issued an “amber” travel alert for Singapore following a rapid increase of local Zika virus cases.
According to Channel News Asia, the number of confirmed cases in Singapore as of September 3 rose to 215. In a statement from the Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency of Singapore, over 20 of the new cases are linked to the Aljunied Crescent, Sims Drive, Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way cluster in the eastern part of Singapore, a 15-minute drive from the Central Business District.
Due to the close level of contact between Hong Kong and Singapore, the Hong Kong Security Bureau felt it necessary to issue the alert, advising travellers to monitor the situation and exercise caution. 364,609 Singaporeans visited Hong Kong between January and July 2016 according to statistics from the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
The government advises pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy to avoid all travel to Singapore as the infection can cause serious birth defects and cause other pregnancy-related problems.
