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Wednesday 03 Feb 2016 - 11:46 Makkah mean time-24-4-1437
Aedes mosquito is carrier of Zika virus (Image from Internet)
Kuala Lumpur (IINA) – Malaysian Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam on Wednesday issued guidelines for the people to protect themselves against the Zika virus infection, warning that dengue-prevalent Malaysia offered a conducive environment for the spread of the disease, BERNAMA reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Zika virus infection as a public health emergency of international concern. The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito that is also a carrier of the dengue virus.
Subramaniam advised Malaysians, particularly pregnant women, to postpone travel to 24 countries in the Americas where the Zika virus infection has been detected.
The Zika virus infection has been linked to cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with underdeveloped brains. According to WHO, there have been around 4,000 reported cases of microcephaly in Brazil alone since October last year.
"If travel to these countries is inevitable, it is necessary to take preventive measures to avoid being bitten by the Aedes mosquito, such as by wearing clothes that cover the whole body and constantly using insect repellent," he said in a statement.
The health minister said people who suffer from symptoms indicating a possibility of the Zika virus infection must seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility.
The most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache.
He also said that government and non-government agencies, as well as the people should implement preventive measures, including ensuring that their environment was clean and free from mosquito-breeding grounds.
AB/IINA
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