Thailand remains on high alert for Zika virus

BANGKOK, Aug 29 (TNA) - Thailand remains implementation of control and prevention measures against Zika virus at the highest level and the high number of Zika infections reported here showed the country’s disease control and detection measures are up to international standard, said Dr Amnuay Kajeena, Director-General of the Disease Control Department. His remark came after the Department of Disease Control and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDO) had categorized Thailand as the country with increasing or widespread transmission or the red zone. The highest number of Zika patients in Southeast Asia actually indicated the country’s surveillance measures as well as disease diagnosis and reports of new cases are effective and internationally accepted, he said. The ECDO’s classification is different from the World Health Organization (WHO) and it does not reflect prevention measures of each country, he added. Meanwhile, Bernama News Agency reported Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed 41 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in the republic. The report said that of these cases, 34 have fully recovered while the other seven, who are still symptomatic and potentially infectious, are recovering at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. All of the cases were residents or workers in the Aljunied Crescent or Sims Drive area and are likely to have been infected in Singapore. Most of the cases are foreign workers. (TNA, Agencies)