Singaporean pre-school teacher Siti is determined to try for a baby even as Zika infections spread across the Southeast Asian nation. She just does all she can to avoid mosquito bites.
"I really love kids and want to have one of my own," the 37-year-old who declined to give her full name said after a procedure at the fertility clinic of KK Women's and Children's Hospital, the largest facility for women's health in Singapore. "I'm not postponing my pregnancy plans but I'm taking all precautions I can."
The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to a spike in microcephaly, a rare birth defect, in Brazil, which has so far been the hardest hit by an outbreak affecting large parts of Latin America. Babies born with the defect have undersized heads and brains. In adults, the virus - which can also be sexually transmitted - has been linked to a rare neurological syndrome called Guillain-Barre.
Economists say concerns about the birth defect could dent the Singapore government's efforts to boost the number of babies born to its citizens. The city-state, a major financial hub, has one of the world's lowest birth rates and a rapidly ageing society, while more than a third of its 5.5 million population are foreigners.
"It could lead to some delay in people who are going to get pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant," said Michael Wan, an economist at Credit Suisse. "But it's a bit too early to tell."
The low birth rate, and a drive to wean the economy off foreign labour, prompted the government last year to start giving out as much as S$10,000 ($7,400) in cash to Singaporeans who have a baby.
Singapore health authorities have urged pregnant women or those trying to conceive to avoid mosquito bites and take precautions since the first case of locally transmitted Zika was detected on Aug 27. Since then, more than 280 people have become infected, of which two were pregnant.
In their guidelines, they highlight the risks for pregnant women that are associated with Zika. They do not urge women who are otherwise healthy, and whose partners also show no symptoms of infection, to postpone pregnancy.
"Use insect repellent. Practice safe sex for the duration of your pregnancy if your partner has been exposed to Zika," reads the advice for pregnant women on the Singapore government's main online portal. "Note that a positive Zika test may not mean your unborn child is infected or harmed."
SOME EXPATS CONSIDER RELOCATING
Citing a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Singapore's government portal says Zika infected women have a 1 to 13 percent chance of giving birth to a child with microcephaly.
There is currently no vaccine for Zika, and Singapore has said the virus is likely to be in the country to stay, given the prevalence of the Aedes mosquitoes that carry it in this small, tropical island. Singapore has been battling dengue, another mosquito-borne virus, for decades.
The World Health Organisation, which has praised Singapore's handling of the Zika outbreak, recommends people considering pregnancy get counselled about the risks in Zika-affected areas, and are told that their options include delaying pregnancy.
In Singapore, some women are not taking any chance. "Some patients, particularly expatriates, are calling to ask if they should relocate back to their own home country," said obstetrician Kelly Loi of the Health and Fertility Centre for Women.
But Aude Vazart, a French engineer who gave birth in Singapore last week, told Reuters leaving the island to avoid Zika was "too extreme". "There are thousands of diseases I could get, even in France," the 29-year-old said.
Reuters
Wed Sep 07 2016
![Zika concerns could test Singapore's efforts to boost birth rate Zika concerns could test Singapore's efforts to boost birth rate](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-09/71473254363_zika.jpg)
A resident shields his nose as pest control officer carry out fogging in the Aljunied Crescent cluster in Singapore, Sept 3, 2016. Antara Foto/MN Kanwa/via REUTERS
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
Lebih 340,000 syarikat buat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial
Sebanyak 340,637 syarikat telah membuat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial (beneficial ownership) bagi tempoh 1 April hingga 14 Julai lepas.
Polis tunggu laporan makmal tentukan punca kematian Nur Farah Kartini
Polis sedang menunggu laporan makmal bagi menentukan punca kematian berhubung kes pembunuhan bekas penuntut Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah.
Mahkamah Persekutuan kekal hukuman mati ke atas bapa
Mahkamah Persekutuan di sini hari ini mengekalkan hukuman gantung sampai mati terhadap seorang bapa yang membunuh anak tiri lelakinya yang berusia enam tahun, 13 tahun lepas.
Keluarga mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati
Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah yang ditemukan mati di sebuah ladang kelapa sawit di Kampung Sri Kledang, Hulu Selangor petang Isnin memohon pihak media dan orang ramai berhenti mengeluarkan kenyataan yang boleh mengguris hati keluarga.
Enam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok
Enam orang ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok, Thailand pada Selasa.
Polis Thailand dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan, pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan daripada kakitangan Hotel Grand Hyatt Erawan pada jam 5.30 petang yang memaklumkan mengenai penemuan mayat itu.
Jelas kenyataan itu lagi, kesemua mangsa merupakan warga asing.
Polis Thailand dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan, pihaknya menerima panggilan kecemasan daripada kakitangan Hotel Grand Hyatt Erawan pada jam 5.30 petang yang memaklumkan mengenai penemuan mayat itu.
Jelas kenyataan itu lagi, kesemua mangsa merupakan warga asing.
Disyaki terima rasuah melebihi RM300,000, ketua pegawai operasi ditahan
Seorang Ketua Pegawai Operasi syarikat konsesi lebuh raya ditahan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), kerana disyaki menerima rasuah melebihi RM300,000.
Mahkamah tolak rayuan Jason Lo
Bekas Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif syarikat telekomunikasi tempatan, Jason Jonathan Lo hari ini gagal mengetepikan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi menolak samannya terhadap Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (Bernama) berhubung dua artikel yang diterbitkan pada 2019 dan 2020.