Singapore finds 13 Indians with Zika

India said on Thursday that 13 of its nationals have tested positive for the Zika virus in Singapore which is battling an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease linked to babies born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains.

“According to the Singapore ministry of health, these patients are showing mild symptoms and have either recovered or are recovering. Their recovery process is being monitored closely,” foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said.

He, however, did not identify the people or their states.

“Since Singapore’s data protection law is very strict, the patient-related details will not be made public unless those 13 people want it to be made public.”

It was also not known whether the infected Indians are settled in the city-state or travelers.

No advisory against travelling to Singapore has been issued till now, officials said. The United States and Australia have warned pregnant women or those trying to conceive not to travel to Singapore where 115 people are infected by the virus.

Zika is transmitted to people through the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

Only 20% people develop symptoms, which are similar to dengue and chikungunya and include of mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain and fatigue that last for two to seven days. About 80% of people infected don’t have symptoms. In pregnant women, Zika infection may cause birth defects microcephaly — unusually small heads — and other brain abnormalities in babies in the womb. Infection may also cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes paralysis. There is no treatment or vaccine for the Zika infection.

A large number of Indians visit Singapore either for business or as tourists. “It is also a hub for onward journey to Australia, US and other South East Asian countries,” an official said.