Singapore Zika Distinct From Americas

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A week after Singapore reported its first case of locally transmitted Zika infection, local scientists say they have completed genetic sequencing of the virus.

"The analysis found that the virus belongs to the Asian lineage and likely evolved from the strain that was already circulating in South-East Asia. The virus from these two patients was not imported from South America," the statement said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-03/singapore-reports-new-strain-of-zika-originating-in-asia/7812172

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Zika virus: Singapore reports new strain originating in Asia; Malaysia detects first local case

Updated about 2 hours ago

PHOTO: Scientists say the virus strain in Singapore was not imported from Brazil. (AFP: Yuri Cortez)

RELATED STORY: Malaysia confirms first case of Zika

RELATED STORY: Pregnant woman in Singapore infected with Zika as cases soar

MAP: Singapore

Singapore has reported 215 cases of Zika infections, as scientists in the city-state said the virus strain came from within Asia and was not imported from Brazil.

Key points:

• Scientists say the virus evolved from South-East Asia strain and was not imported
• Malaysia says it expects the number of local transmissions to grow
• It is urging residents to adopt preventative measures

The Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency said in a joint statement on Saturday evening that of the 26 new cases reported on Saturday, 24 were linked to a cluster in the Aljunied district where the country's first locally-transmitted cases were reported.

The statement did not say where the other two cases were from.

A week after Singapore reported its first case of locally transmitted Zika infection, local scientists say they have completed genetic sequencing of the virus.

"The analysis found that the virus belongs to the Asian lineage and likely evolved from the strain that was already circulating in South-East Asia. The virus from these two patients was not imported from South America," the statement said.

The Aedes mosquito-borne Zika, which has been detected in 67 countries and territories including hard-hit Brazil, causes only mild symptoms for most people such as fever and a rash.

But pregnant women who catch it can give birth to babies with microcephaly, a deformation marked by abnormally small brains and heads.

Malaysian man dies in country's first locally transmitted case

Meanwhile, the Malaysian health ministry said it has detected the first case of a locally transmitted Zika infection in a 61-year-old man in the state of Sabah.

The patient died because of heart-related complications, the ministry said, and was already in fragile health due to heart problems, high blood pressure and other maladies.

The patient, whose blood and urine samples tested positive for Zika, did not travel overseas recently and was probably bitten by Aedes mosquito infected with Zika, the ministry said.

"Since the Zika virus has been detected in this country, Zika case is expected to increase further, especially if prevention activities for Aedes are not seriously taken up by the community, individuals and other relevant agencies," the ministry said.

On Thursday, Malaysia confirmed the first imported case of Zika in a 58-year-old woman who had visited Singapore.

The city-state announced the first locally contracted case of Zika last Saturday, and the number of diagnosed infections has grown steadily.

Of those infected in Singapore, 11 are Malaysians, the ministry said.

Zika virus explained

Zika virus was first isolated in 1947, in a rhesus monkey at Uganda's Zika Forest. So what is it, where is it, and how does it spread?

The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has since confirmed more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly.

In adults, Zika infections have also been linked to a rare neurological syndrome known as Guillain-Barre, as well as other neurological disorders.

There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes.

An estimated 80 per cent of people infected have no symptoms, making it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected.

AFP/Reuters

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Sequencing of Zika Virus Strains From Sims Drive/ Aljunied Crescent Cluster 

 

Tags:

• News Highlights

      The Ministry of Health’s National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute (BII) have completed the sequencing of the virus strains of three live Zika cases found in Singapore. These cases comprise the first imported Zika infection detected in May 2016, and two local transmission cases from the Sims Drive/Aljunied Crescent cluster.

Key Findings

2.    The sequence of the first imported Zika case that was reported in May 2016, is similar to the strains currently found in South America. This finding is consistent with the patient’s travel history. He had travelled to Brazil just before he fell ill.

3.    The Zika virus strains found in the two locally-transmitted cases from the Sims Drive-Aljunied Crescent cluster were not recently imported from South America.These virus strains have sequences similar to strains of Zika virus which have been circulating in South-east Asia since the 1960s before the viruses spread to French Polynesia in 2013 and subsequently to Brazil in 2015.

Implications of Sequencing Findings

4.    The analysis of the virus found in two locally transmitted cases shows it belongs to the Asian lineage and likely evolved from a strain that was already circulating in South-east Asia. Currently there is no evidence from existing studies and from this sequence to indicate whether the differences between these strains and the South American virus correlate with differences in severity or type of disease. The virus sequence, when shared with the international community and compared with existing virus sequences, will help in tracking the global spread and evolution of the Zika virus.

5.    Correlation of virus strains with specific clinical manifestations will take long-term careful epidemiological studies as well as experimental studies in research laboratories.  Knowing the range and distribution of virus strains would also be useful in future testing of vaccines and various treatment strategies.

6.    MOH’s NPHL and A*STAR’s BII will continue to monitor and study the evolution of the virus in Singapore and the region. The sequences from their analyses will be made available on public databases for the benefit of the global scientific community, including the World Health Organization.

https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/pressRoomItemRelease/2016/sequencing-of-zika-virus-strains-from-sims-drive--aljunied-cresc.html