Eradicating aedes mosquito breeding areas is best way to tackle Zika

MALACCA: Eradicating aedes mosquito breeding areas is the best way to tackle the Zika virus spread in the country, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
As such, he said the ministry had set the measure as its top priority in order to eliminate the virus and he hoped that the public could give full cooperation in eradicating aedes mosquito breeding grounds at their homes.
"We must be prepared to face it (the Zika virus) and the ministry will give top priority to eradicate the aedes breeding grounds because the mosquito is the carrier (the Zika virus).
"We hope that through this measure, we can reduce the spread of this disease to other people. No Aedes no Zika," he said at a press conference after officiating the Malacca MIC Annual Convention at the Malacca International Trade Centre here last night.
Malaysia recorded its first case of Zika virus infection when a 58-year-old woman in Klang, Selangor tested positive for the disease a week after her return from Singapore on Aug 21.
Dr Subramaniam who is also MIC president said the border-screening measures for the disease would not be able to prevent the disease 100% from entering the country.
He said this was because the Zika virus infection was difficult to detect and the probability of leakage at screening checkpoints could also contribute to the entry of the Zika virus into the country. — Bernama