Malaysia detects first locally-transmitted Zika case

Malaysia's Ministry of Health said on Saturday that they detected possibly the country's first locally-transmitted Zika case in a 61-year-old man in Sabah on the Kalimantan island.

"The ministry is currently investigating the travel history of the patient in the recent period,"said the statement, noting that there is a high possibility that the infection was transmitted locally since the patient has not travelled abroad recently and it was likely he got bitten by an Aedes mosquito carrying Zika.

According to the statement, the man first showed symptoms of a fever on Aug. 27 and sought treatment at local clinic. As his conditions worsened and began to have more symptoms such as muscle aches and diarrhea, he had further treatment at a hospital.

As he was also suffering from other diseases such high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and chronic kidney disease, his condition was very serious at the hospital, but not due to Zika infection, said the statement.

It added vector control measures have been taken in the residential area and other places visited by the patient.

Given that the virus has been detected in this country, more Zika cases are expected if no precaution measures are taken by the community and the people, said the ministry.

Malaysia confirmed its first Zika case on Thursday in a 58-year-old woman who had visited her daughter in Singapore. Enditem