Zika virus outbreak prompts abortion discussion

PUTRAJAYA: The National Fatwa Council has been asked to meet by next week to come up with a ruling on abortions for pregnant women infected with the zika virus.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the Cabinet, in a recent meeting, had suggested that the council meet and discuss the issue.
"There has been a suggestion from the cabinet that the fatwa council should discuss this issue, with input from the medical side, in coming up with a national consensus on how to deal with it (abortion).
"Once they come up with a consensus, then the medical fraternity will issue advice based on that.
"We propose they meet as early as possible, as early as next week. They will have to fix the time," he told a press conference, here, today.
Subramaniam said at present only pregnant women who are at risk are allowed to undergo an abortion.
He added that other than the six confirmed zika cases reported in the country so far, the ministry has conducted tests on 79 other suspected cases, with all testing negative.
"The ministry and local councils have also conducted checks and control measures on over 3,500 housing premises, most of them close to where zika had been reported," he said.
The two latest zika cases were reported on Tuesday involving two sisters in Miri, Sarawak and Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.