More than 26 locally transmitted cases of zika virus have been confirmed in Singapore,said the Ministry of health of the city-state. 56 cases confirmed on Monday, the total number of viral infections in Singapore rose to 82.

7 patients who are still considered to be potentially infectious are being treated in hospital, tan Tok Seng. The rest fully recovered. "They travelled to areas affected by the zika virus recently, and thus probably were infected in Singapore," reads the statement issued by the Ministry.

On Monday, the Ministry of health has completed testing of all workers on a construction site who showed symptoms of fever and rash. Workers living in hostels, found in areas of concern were also monitored.

August 29, the National environment Agency in Singapore has tested nearly 5,000 of the approximately 6,000 premises in the area of Aljunied Crescent to check availability of mosquitoes. The Agency found and destroyed 39 spawning grounds. The first imported case of zika in Singapore were discovered in may after the person who visited Brazil began to show symptoms and was taken to the hospital.

Zika virus causes microcephaly in infants - an unusually small head and brain damage in children born to infected mothers. The virus is also associated with blindness, deafness, seizures and other birth defects.
sections: Accidents, World News