Zika virus testing was made available Tuesday at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) as part of the Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) Zika Surveillance Programme.
HPA said a PCR machine, donated by World Health Organisation (WHO), has been installed at IGMH, and clinicians have been trained to operate the machine.
Epidemiologist at HPA Dr Ibrahim Afsal told PSM News that “the PCR test will detect Zika, chikungunya, and dengue viruses.”
“HPA has already formulated a guideline for identifying, diagnosing, and treatment of Zika virus and continuing to look for any signs of the virus in the country,” he said.
HPA intensified its Zika Surveillance Programme after Singapore confirmed 41 cases of Zika this week.
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to dengue, which causes microcephaly in the fetus, stunning brain development of the baby.