Hanoi (VNA) - The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore hasannounced that a new Zika cluster was detected at Flower Road/Hendry Close,nearing to the North-East Region.

Theagency urged local residents and stakeholders to maintain vigilance andcontinue to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats to prevent the spread of thevirus.

Therecould still be undiagnosed cases which may result in further transmission ofthe virus, it added.

Lastmonth, two cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection were confirmed bythe Health Ministry of Singapore.

Firstdiscovered in Africa, Zika virus has spread to Asia and Latin America, triggeringthe largest outbreak so far. As many as 73 countries and territories across theworld reported people with the disease, with Latin America being the most affectedarea, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).  

Zikavirus is mainly transmitted through the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also carriesdengue fever. The virus causes only mild symptoms in most cases, includingfever, sore eyes and a rash. But pregnant women infected with the virus riskgiving birth to babies with microcephaly - a deformation that leads toabnormally small brains and heads.

Currentlythere is no vaccine or specific medicine to treat the disease.-VNA