Eighth case of Zika virus in Malaysia confirmed
Malaysia has confirmed its eighth case of the Zika virus infection involving a 67-year-old man who showed the first symptoms in late November.
According to an online statement released by Malaysia’s health director-general Datuk Seri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, during November 14 to 28, the man was in Kuala Lumpur, in the Selangor city of Shah Alam and in Perak state, north of Selangor. The statement did not specify if the man contracted the virus locally or overseas.
“His family members were questioned and their blood and urine samples were taken as soon as he (the patient) tested positive for Zika,” said Noor Hisham.
“Active case detection is being conducted in the patient’s residential area to detect if neighboring residents have symptoms of Zika.”
Malaysia confirmed its first Zika case in September, after a woman tested positive for the virus following a three-day visit to neighboring Singapore.
US health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies.
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