Don’t travel to Singapore, pregnant women told

MANILA, Philippines – Pregnant women are advised to avoid traveling “at the moment” to Singapore and other countries where cases of Zika virus are on the rise.

In a statement, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said it is “very risky” for pregnant women to get infected with Zika virus.

The disease has been linked to birth of babies with severe brain and other neurological defects like microcephaly, a condition where a baby has small head.

Ubial said since Zika is also sexually-transmitted, pregnant women, their partners and others planning for pregnancy should observe safe sex precautions (condoms) to avoid infection.

She urged international travelers to take extra precautions while staying in countries with “ongoing local transmission.”

The Bureau of Quarantine will continue to screen arriving travelers for signs of fever, she added.

Travelers were also reminded to   fill out a health declaration checklist upon arrival and to report or visit any government health facility if they become ill with unexplained fever within seven days from arrival.

Ubial urged the public to beef up efforts to eliminate all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes as they could spread not only Zika virus but dengue and Chikungunya as well.