SINGAPORE - Singapore confirmed another 26 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus on Tuesday (Aug 30), on top of the 41 and 15 cases confirmed on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

This brings the total number of cases to 82.

In a joint media statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said that, as of noon on Aug 30, another 111 individuals tested negative over the last 24 hours.

The statement said that in 17 of the 26 new cases, the infected individuals live or work in the Sims Drive and Aljunied Crescent area. Five individuals in the new cases live or work in Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way, which are north of the Sims Drive and Aljunied Crescent area.

The remaining four cases are still being investigated, MOH and NEA said.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

The statement also said that NEA has inspected about 5,000 of the estimated 6,000 premises in the Sims Drive and Aljunied Crescent cluster to check for mosquito breeding. A total of 39 breeding habitats - 23 in homes and 16 in common areas or other premises - have been detected and destroyed as of Aug 29.

NEA has served notices to over 400 "inaccessible premises", asking owners to contact it to arrange for an inspection. The authorities will proceed with forced entry if the owners do not comply, it said.

sinsh@sph.com.sg

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

SINGAPORE - Pregnant women in Singapore with symptoms of Zika - such as fever, rash, red eyes or joint pain - are advised to be tested for the virus, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Pregnant women with male partners who are Zika-positive should also be tested, regardless of whether they have been to Zika-affected areas, and even if they do not display symptoms of the virus.

Testing will be free at public healthcare institutions for pregnant women who meet the criteria and are referred by their doctors.

In the statement on Aug 30, MOH added that while there is currently no evidence that women are more likely to get Zika virus infection, the consequences can be more serious if a pregnant woman is infected, as Zika virus infection can cause microcephaly in the unborn foetus.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

Microcephaly is a congenital condition in which the head size is much smaller than usual for a baby of the same age, race and sex.

According to MOH, if a pregnant patient is confirmed to have Zika infection, she will be referred to a maternal-foetal medicine (MFM) specialist for counselling and advice.

The doctor may recommend regular ultrasounds to monitor for foetal growth and abnormalities. MOH will also arrange for the expectant mother to be admitted to a public hospital for further management and care if necessary.

Amniotic fluid testing for Zika may be offered if the woman is more than 15 weeks pregnant, said MOH.

However, it added that as there is currently not enough research to ascertain the effectiveness of testing for Zika in amniotic fluid, a positive Zika test in amniotic fluid does not mean that the foetus will definitely have birth defects.

MOH cited a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine which found that the risk of an infected mother giving birth to a child with microcephaly is between one to 13 per cent.

Pregnant women are advised to undertake strict precautions against mosquito bites and seek medical attention immediately if they display symptoms of the virus.

MOH also advised women with confirmed Zika virus infection to abstain from sexual intercourse for at least eight weeks after recovery.

Men with confirmed Zika virus infection but whose female partner is not pregnant should also adopt safe sexual practices or consider abstinence for six months after recovery.

See also: How pregnant women can avoid infection

candicec@sph.com.sg

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

The school bus driver thought the 11-year-old boy had fallen asleep in his seat.

But when he tried to wake the boy upon reaching Maris Stella Primary School yesterday morning, the Primary 5 pupil did not respond.

He was later pronounced dead at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH).

The New Paper understands the boy was on his way to school when he became unresponsive.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call at about 6.55am yesterday and sent an ambulance to the school.

Police received a call around the same time yesterday asking for help "at 80, Bartley Road".

UNCONSCIOUS

They found an 11-year-old boy unconscious when they arrived and he was taken to KKH, "where he was subsequently pronounced dead at about 8.46am," their spokesman said.

The family told media that the parents were in Singapore at the time of the incident.

An SMS that was circulated around Maris Stella Primary yesterday informed all of the incident and asked them to pray for the boy and his family.

One parent, who declined to be named, said the boy had a fever on Mondayand was sent home early.

He said: "The school principal spoke to his class and told them about the news. We heard he was an only child and his parents are currently out of the country."

Mrs Woo Soo Min, principal of Maris Stella Primary, said in an e-mail to TNP that the school was "saddened by the passing of one of our students".

"We are in touch with the family and are providing assistance and support to them during this difficult time. We are also providing emotional support to affected staff and students. As the police is investigating this case, we are unable to comment further," she said.

Police are investigating the unnatural death.

Correction note: An earlier version of this story said TNP understood that the boy's parents were overseas at the time of the incident. Family members have told media that the parents were in Singapore. The story has been corrected.

This article was first published on Aug 31, 2016.
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A tiny but potentially lethal insect has come between Singaporeans and their love of food, turning what used to be bustling food centres into almost "ghost towns".

The fear of contracting Zika, which, like dengue fever, is spread by the Aedes mosquito, is keeping the lunch crowd away from the Sims Drive and Aljunied Crescent area.

This is where most of the cases of Zika infection have been concentrated, with 26 more cases confirmed as of noon yesterday.

The tally now stands at 82 cases, and the spread of infection has widened to the Kallang Way and Paya Lebar Way area, with at least five cases there. (See report at right.)

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

No wonder Mr Ong Boon Seng, 46, gets nervous just thinking about it. In just two days, he has seen his business slump badly.

In his 14 years of running a provision shop at the Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, he has not seen such a drastic plunge in business.

"People are scared and don't want to come here any more. My business has been badly affected," he told The New Paper yesterday. "It makes me sweat just thinking about it."

Pointing at the mosquito repellent patch on his shirt, he said that those working in the area were afraid, too.

"We are worried about business but also afraid of the mosquitoes," he said. "I hope they don't make us close shop because of this."

Mr Joe Tan, 62, a fruit seller at the centre, said the lunch crowd is now half of what it was less than a week ago.

"It is usually packed, with queues at the stalls on a normal day," he said.

"The stalls here sell food that is cheap and good, and they make very little profit. They depend on selling a lot to make enough money, but with half the crowd gone, it is going to be an uphill task."

NO CALL, NO QUEUE

A woman, who has been selling porridge and noodles for a decade at the centre, said she usually gets calls around lunchtime to place orders.

But in the past two days, she has not received a single call, and there has been no queue at her stall.

The woman, who declined to be named, added: "I don't know what exactly Zika is. I only know it is affecting my business badly."

A pregnant woman who was buying food at one of the stalls was not aware of the Zika infections in the area.

Declining to be identified, she said: "I am not sure about Zika, so I am not too worried about it."

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

Another customer, Mr Arumugam Palani, 46, a deliveryman from a warehouse nearby, said he had never seen the food centre so empty. "I always come here for breakfast and lunch, and this is the first time I see the hawkers being able to sit down to drink coffee," he added. There were similar scenes at almost every eatery in the Sims Drive area yesterday.

Even at the Geylang East Centre Market and Food Centre, which is located just outside the boundaries of the Zika cluster, stallholders bemoan that their business have dropped by 20 per cent.

Mr Alan Leow, 60, who runs Guan Kee Wanton Noodle, pointed at the many empty tables when asked if his business had been affected.

"It is definitely quieter than usual, but I am still making ends meet," he said.

Like many others, he is worried that the situation could get worse. "But what can we do?" he added.

At the coffee shop at Block 45, Sims Drive, a woman from the drinks stall said business was poor.

A beer promoter working there had been the first case of locally transmitted Zika infection.

The Straits Times reported yesterday that the sale of mosquito repellents and patches in five Guardian outlets in Aljunied had tripled from last week.

But Madam Catherine Ng, 51, who owns a sundry store at the Sims Vista Market and Food Centre, told TNP that she stopped selling repellent patches after her last batch expired earlier this year due to a lack of demand.

"I would have maybe three people coming to me every year asking for insect repellent," she said.

Then yesterday, she had to turn away five people trying to buy repellent from her.

While the stallholders are worried about their businesses and health, they are quietly hopeful that the preventive measures being taken by the authorities will be successful and will return confidence to the area.

Mr Leow said: "Just because this has happened, we cannot stop our business and stay at home. Life goes on."

Read also: Singapore goes to war against Zika

This article was first published on August 31, 2016.
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If you're planning on holding a meeting or conference in Asia, you might want to consider doing so in Singapore.

Compared to other Asian Pacific cities for business travel, Singapore is less costly than Hong Kong, which tops as the most expensive city for business travel. 

In fact, Singapore is ranked as the fifth most expensive location, according to findings from the latest Daily Rates research published by ECA International.

After Hong Kong, the second most expensive location for business travel is Dhaka in Bangladesh, followed by Seoul as third most expensive and Tokyo as fourth.

Updated annually, ECA's Daily Rates reports provide average costs for hotel accommodation, which makes up the bulk of any daily allowance, as well as meals, drinks, laundry, taxi transport and daily essentials.

While the cost of a typical meal out and incidental expenditure is more expensive in Singapore, higher costs associated with hotel accommodation in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) contribute to its position as the most expensive location in the Asia Pacific to undertake a business trip.

"Room rates in Singapore are among the highest out of the locations we surveyed in the region," said Mr Lee Quane, regional director - Asia for ECA International.

"Looking at four-star hotel accommodation, rates here are the seventh highest in the region, approximately 20 per cent lower than comparable accommodation in the most expensive location, Hong Kong."

The cheapest location in Asia for business travel is Kuala Lumpur.

Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Bandar Seri Begawan are the only other capital cities ranked within the top 10 cheapest locations for business travel in Asia.

"A combination of generally low living costs, relatively cheap accommodation options for business travellers and weak currency against the USD have contributed to these locations being where they are in our rankings," Mr Quane pointed out.

When hotel costs are excluded, the most expensive locations in Asia that are visited by employees are slightly different.

Seoul, then, becomes the most expensive location in Asia, followed by Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore and Shanghai.

Singapore rises to fourth place in the region, overtaking Dhaka, where a shortage of suitable accommodation contributes to the high rates charged for hotel rooms.

Dhaka moves down to the 24th most expensive location in the region when hotel rates are excluded.

Hong Kong also falls to eighth position.

The cheapest locations in the region for business travellers, once hotel costs are excluded, are Karachi, Islamabad, Kathmandu and Ulaanbaatar, with costs in Karachi approximately one third of those incurred by business travellers in Seoul.

"Companies have many ways to ensure that the costs incurred by an employee during the course of a business trip are covered, whether that be via reimbursement or the provision of a daily allowance to meet such expenditure," advised Mr Quane.

"However, what the variation in costs within the region suggests is that it is important for companies to ensure that the allowances they pay are relative to each location that they send an employee to. These should also be reviewed on a regular basis in order to account for the annual changes."

spanaech@sph.com.sg

He was looking forward to having dinner with his colleague at Leisure Park Kallang last Saturday.

But as Mr Teong Hien Sing turned and drove his Toyota Altis into the open-space carpark near Stadium Road, a shock awaited him.

A speeding Nissan GT-R slammed into the front right side of his car, shattering a headlight and causing the vehicle to spin nearly 180 degrees.

A video of the crash has since gone viral on the Internet. At road safety community site Beh Chia Lor, the video has garnered more than 379,000 views as of yesterday evening. The video was also a hit on citizen website Stomp.

CRASH: A video of the accident has gone viral. It shows the Toyota Altis (on left) being rammed by a speeding Nissan GT-R in the carpark near Leisure Park Kallang. PHOTOS: INTERNET/ BEH CHIA LOR

The crash left Mr Teong, a contractor, with injuries to his ribs. His passenger, Mr Islam Rafiq, 30, escaped serious injuries.

A shaken Mr Teong, 65, told The New Paper (TNP) at the accident site that evening: "If it had been a second later, he would have hit me in the driver's seat.

"It could have been much worse."

The crash, however, left both vehicles seriously damaged.

Other than a shattered headlight, the front of Mr Teong's Toyota was badly dented, while the front bumper of the GT-R got dislodged and its bonnet was left in a crumpled mess.

Mr Teong says the whole incident happened so fast and he did not have time to react as his car spun out of control from the impact.

"The GT-R was going very fast and I was so shocked. By the time I realised what happened my car had been hit and had stopped spinning," said Mr Teong.

On Saturday, when TNP first spoke to the alleged driver of the GT-R, Mr Herman Shi Ximu, 18, a full-time national serviceman, he denied being behind the wheel.

But when contacted on the phone yesterday, he said he was "fully responsible".

He added that the accident was due to his unfamiliarity with the car, which he says he owns.

"The car I was driving accidentally switched to manual. My unfamiliarity with the powerful manual setting caused me to speed," said Mr Herman.

The GT-R is equipped with both automatic and manual transmissions. The top speed for the car is around 307kmh and it is able to go from zero to around 96kmh in 2.9 seconds.

PRICEY CAR

On sgCarMart, the car retails for $448,800.

Mr Herman, who told TNP that he got his driving licence four months ago, said that he is used to driving the car on automatic transmission.

"I'm a good driver. My theory test and practical driving tests, I passed them all in one shot," he added.

When TNP asked Mr Herman if he was racing in the carpark that evening, he repeatedly denied doing so. He explained he was ferrying photographers from one side of the carpark to another. TNP understands that the photographers were there to shoot a gathering of sports cars.

It is not known if Mr Herman's car was part of this event.

On Monday, the police posted a statement on Facebook saying an 18-year-old man had been arrested on Monday for his suspected involvement in a case of dangerous driving and taking part in an unauthorised speed trial.

His driving licence was suspended with immediate effect.

TNP understands that the man in question is Mr Herman.

Motorists found guilty of taking part in an unauthorised speed trial can be jailed up to six months, and fined between $1,000 and $2,000 for the first offence.

On subsequent convictions, they can be jailed up to a year, and fined between $2,000 and $3,000. Vehicles involved may be forfeited.

For the offence of dangerous driving, convicted motorists are liable to a fine of up to $3,000, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both. A fine of up to $5,000 and/or jail for up to two years applies for repeat offenders.

"The Traffic Police takes a stern view on such dangerous road behaviour as it puts the lives of the drivers and other road users at risk," the police said.

Correction note: An earlier version of this storystated that an 18-year-old man had been arrested on Saturday. This is incorrect. He was arrested on Monday.

This article was first published on Aug 31, 2016.
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When she joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) 30 years ago, Madam Zuraidah Abdullah did not think that she would one day become the first woman to hold the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner.

But she did just that in 2013, adding to an already impressive list of accomplishments.

She became the first woman council member of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) in 2007. During a secondment from 2007 to 2009, she served as chief executive for self-help group Yayasan Mendaki, helping children in troubled families stay in schools through initiatives such as mathematics workshops for weaker students. She is married with three stepchildren.

Yesterday, Madam Zuraidah, 54, received the Berita Harian (BH) Achiever of the Year Award, or Anugerah Jauhari, from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Presented by the Singapore Press Holdings' Malay daily, the award honours Malay/Muslim community individuals for their achievements in their fields.

BH editor Saat Abdul Rahman described Madam Zuraidah as an inspiration during the award ceremony at the Furama RiverFront Hotel yesterday. "(She) is a model of success not only to the Malay/Muslim community, but also to the nation, having devoted her time to community work, contributing in various areas, including education, youth development and heritage."

Madam Zuraidah, who has also been chairman of the Malay Heritage Foundation's board of directors since 2010, said she wanted to share the award with her fellow men and women in blue, adding that she is thankful to the SPF for giving her opportunities to excel.

She said: "I hope my achievements will continue to inspire my community. If you work hard and put your mind to it, you will succeed. Dream that it is possible."

Also honoured last night was silat world champion Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau'ddin, who was conferred the Young Achiever Award, or the Anugerah Jauhari Harapan.

The 18-year-old won gold medals at both the world championships and the South-east Asian championships last year, as well as the Asian championships in June this year.

He was also a bronze medallist at last year's South-east Asian Games.

Mr Sheik Farhan, who is a third- year digital and precision engineering student at Nanyang Poly- technic, said he was surprised to have been picked for the award. "I didn't think I could win because my achievement has been in sports," said Mr Sheik Farhan, who started learning silat when he was three.

"I want to tell other young people: 'Pursue whatever you want to do; just make sure you strive for the best'," he added. His father is former silat world champion Sheik Alau'ddin.

Yesterday's winners were picked by four judges: Mr Saat Abdul Rahman, former speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, and former winners Abdul Razakjr Omat and Suhaimi Rafdi. Other previous winners include MP Halimah Yacob, fashion designer Ashley Isham and master potter Iskandar Jalil.

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 31, 2016.
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United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon received the highest honour from the National University of Singapore (NUS) yesterday in recognition of his humanitarian accomplishments and work in sustainable development, human rights, global peace and security.

The 72-year-old was given an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from NUS at a ceremony at the Istana that was presided over by President Tony Tan Keng Yam, who is also the NUS chancellor.

Mr Ban, a South Korean, is the UN's eighth secretary-general and the second Asian to take the post. He took office in 2007 and was re-elected for a second term, which ends in December.

He has pushed for climate action and women's rights, strengthened peacekeeping operations, improved humanitarian response and revitalised disarmament efforts.

In his remarks, Mr Banrecalled how, during the Korean War as a six-year-old, he and his family survived on food and medicine from Unicef and how he, along with others, studied with textbooks provided by Unesco.

"The UN flag was our beacon," he said. "I have sought to keep that light shining so that others may find their way out of despair, and so that all people can enjoy a brighter future."

Acknowledging that the world is going through a difficult time, he said: "People worry about the next extreme storm, the next financial shock or the next outbreak of deadly disease.

"No country is immune from the threat of violent extremism. Singapore itself, stable and prosperous, has had to take steps recently to heighten its defences."

Professor Kishore Mahbubani, who read the citation for Mr Ban, said one of his key achievements has been to "secure a strong global consensus" for action on global warming.

Prof Mahbubani, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, also noted Mr Ban's contributions to gender equality, including pushing for the creation of UN Women as a separate agency in 2011.

"It is no secret that the job of UN secretary-general is one of the most difficult and impossible jobs in the world," he said. "Mr Ban will be remembered for dealing with so many global crises with remarkable calm and equanimity."

Meanwhile, on Monday, Mr Ban gave a speech to 3,000 guests at the Suntec Convention Centre, where he delivered the eighth lecture in the Singapore Management University's Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture Series.

Speaking to a crowd of mostly students, he said young people have "unlimited potentiality" to make the world a better place, and praised Singapore for its strengths.

"At a time of global divisions, you continue to build a prosperous society of tolerance and co-existence," he said. "Singapore is also a force for regional stability and solidarity through its involvement in ASEAN."

He also lauded the country's innovations in water management, waste management and energy efficiency. "Singaporean nationals have served with distinction in many capacities across the world," Mr Ban noted.

ateng@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Lin Yangchen

This article was first published on August 31, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - If you're one of those with fast-draining mobile phone batteries who are always on the look-out for charging points, then this might make your day.

Come September 1 (Thursday), 10 new double-decker buses fitted with USB charging ports will hit the roads.

According to a joint press release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT, these new buses are the first in Singapore with such a feature.

The buses will be run by SMRT, and will be deployed to five SMRT bus services - Service 61 from Bukit Batok Bus Interchange, Services 67 and 985 from Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange and Services 963 and 969 from Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange.

LTA will progressively roll out an additional 137 buses with USB charging ports from October 2016 onwards.

It's a Lush Green makeover for new bus fleet

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The Straits Times

Each bus will have 41 USB charging ports which are located near the inner seats. Ports will also be made available at the wheelchair bay on board the wheelchair accessible buses.

According to the statement, the addition of USB charging ports to buses will not affect the overall operations of the buses and commuters will not incur any additional cost for the use of the ports.

The additions come after the public gave feedback during LTA's Bus Carnival earlier this year.

Other notable suggestions from respondents includes passenger information systems and allowing open prams and strollers on buses. LTA will incorporate more features, as chosen by the public, in future buses.

debwong@sph.com.sg

Singapore - Homemaker Sulaiha Ngatiman hunkered indoors as the scent of mosquito repellent lingered in her second-storey flat.

The 30-year-old, who is seven months' pregnant with her fifth child, lives in Aljunied Crescent, a sleepy eastern suburb at the heart of Singapore's recent Zika outbreak and the scene of a war against the Aedes mosquito that carries the virus.

Downstairs, fog-like smoke billowed as pest control crews armed with thermal machines fumigated drainage canals and other potential mosquito breeding spots.

"I'm very concerned because I've read that a lot of the symptoms can't be seen," Sulaiha told AFP from her living room, where mini bottles of mosquito repellent lined a table.

The smell of citronella - a natural mosquito repellent - hung heavy in the air.

"All a mother really wants is for your child to be healthy," added Sulaiha, who now limits her outdoor exposure.

Zika, which has been detected in 58 countries including hardest-hit Brazil, causes only mild symptoms for most people, such as fever and a rash.

But in pregnant women, it can cause microcephaly, a deformation in which babies are born with abnormally small brains and heads.

As of Tuesday Singapore had confirmed 82 locally transmitted cases of Zika infection.

The initial cases were reported at the weekend from the Aljunied area and since then, the neighbourhood has been in the spotlight.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

Environment agency inspectors armed with cans of insecticide and torchlights, as well as pest control teams, have become a daily sight.

On a visit by an AFP reporter Wednesday afternoon, the whine of thermal fumigators joined the roar of jets from a nearby military air base in puncturing the stillness.

Local shopkeepers reported a surge in sales of mosquito repellent patches, sprays and devices.

"I've sold out all my mosquito coil but people keep asking to buy patches and other things which I don't have," storekeeper Haranachia Mansoor, 30, told AFP.

In spite of the increased infections, life was normal for a number of residents.

"Most of us living here are old people so there are not many pregnant people anyway," said resident Chew Ah Gek, 72.

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

"The government people come and check for mosquitoes all the time. There's no need to get worked up."

Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases specialist at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, said people are not panicking because they trust the government's mosquito extermination efforts.

"The safest place you can be in Singapore now is right smack in Aljunied, because you have so many checks and exterminations going on," he told AFP.

Sulaiha had a scare in 2009 while expecting her third child, when there was an outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu. Now no precaution is excessive.

"I'm going to the doctor for tests tomorrow just to be sure," she said.

Singapore's Zika Clinical Advisory Group was unanimous about offering free testing to pregnant women islandwide with Zika symptoms, as these experts fear that the virus could have spread beyond the current outbreak area.

Professor Arijit Biswas, who chairs the nine-member group set up in February, said the biggest concern about Zika is its effect on pregnancy.

That is why the group, which advises the Ministry of Health on developing clinical protocols to manage Zika, did not want to restrict the tests to only those in the current outbreak area around Aljunied. "We might miss some (cases)" if this were done, he said. "So we decided to make the net wider."

But these women should have had at least three Zika symptoms within the past two weeks. The symptoms are:

• a fever, usually low-grade;
• a rash that is usually red, flat and itchy and in more than one part of the body;
• any one of the following: joint or muscle ache, red eyes or headache.

What is the Zika virus?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

Prof Biswas, who is clinical director of Maternal and Fetal Medicine at the National University Hospital, said women who have not exhibited such symptoms in the past fortnight should not go for the tests.

What would happen if Zika becomes endemic here, the way dengue is, and thousands of people get infected every year? "The most important message to pregnant women is, they should take precautions against mosquito bites," he said. And that would apply whether Zika becomes endemic or even now.

"Use mosquito repellents available in Singapore which are safe, wear long sleeves and pants in light colours, stay in air-conditioned rooms and use a mosquito net if possible," said Prof Biswas.

His other piece of advice for pregnant women is: "Either abstain, or practise safe sex throughout your pregnancy." This is to prevent any possible infection from a partner, who might not know he has Zika.

Prof Biswas also answered other questions about Zika. His answers have been paraphrased.

Q: If a pregnant woman has Zika, how accurate are the tests to check if the baby is affected?

A: Microcephaly, the most common birth defect linked to Zika infection, cannot always be picked up early. In some cases, it is spotted only after birth. But some features might be picked up during tests, like structural abnormality. If the baby looks structurally abnormal, a second test of the amniotic fluid can be done, but this carries a 0.5 to 1 per cent risk. Things that can go wrong include leakage from the womb, early contractions and even infection.

Q: If the tests cannot accurately tell if the baby is compromised, what's the point of regular monitoring?

A: The majority of pregnant women who have been infected with Zika give birth to perfectly normal babies. Monitoring the baby's development can give reassurance.

Q: If scans show the baby has a small head, should parents abort?

A: A small head alone is not enough to show the baby has microcephaly. There must be other symptoms such as extra fluid in the brain, or calcification. Also, about 15 per cent of babies born with microcephaly can live normal lives.

If abnormalities are found, you should discuss it with your doctor, as each case is different.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

Q: Why can't women whose babies are likely to suffer from microcephaly abort if they have been pregnant for more than 24 weeks?

A: A foetus older than 24 weeks can survive unaided, but one that is less than 24 weeks can't. This is why 24 weeks is the legal limit for abortion.

Q: If the virus stays in the body for only two to four weeks, why do women infected with Zika have to wait two months, and men six months, before trying for a child?

A: This is to be really safe, as there are reports that the virus can stay in the semen for up to six months.

This article was first published on Sep 01, 2016.
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It is a blazing Tuesday morning and beads of sweat are glistening on Mr Mak Chin On's forehead.

Boys in uniform a quarter of his age walk past him as he looks up at the imposing clock tower of his alma mater - Chinese High, now known as the Hwa Chong Institution (HCI).

"This used to be a hall where we would have our music lessons," saids the 73-year-old nursery owner, pointing at the open space beneath the tower before breaking spontaneously into song.

The 36m-high clock tower has stood witness not only to the maturing of generations of boys, but also to Singapore's journey from colony to country.

Built in 1925 with generous donations from prominent Chinese leaders such as "Sugar King of Java" Oei Tiong Ham, the tower has been the backdrop for various episodes in Singapore's history.

The Japanese used it as a vantage point and surveillance tower during their occupation of Singapore from 1942 to 1945.

It also served as a temporary concentration camp for prisoners detained during the brutal Sook Ching massacre, thought to have taken the lives of at least 5,000 men.

The clock tower also bore witness to the tumult of the 1950s and 1960s, when many students from the school took part in protests against the colonial government, resulting in arrests and detentions.

The tower's four-faced clock, which was destroyed and removed during World War II, was restored only in the early 1970s, when the late Singaporean tycoon Tan Keong Choon - the nephew of the school's founder - had Japanese watchmaker Seiko donate a new timepiece.

The clock tower would go through another round of restoration and expansion in the 1990s, when a bigger clock, a new library and a larger entrance added to its grandeur.

The clock tower that has stood throughout the changes of a chaotic century was gazetted as a National Monument by the National Heritage Board in 1999.

Today, tales of the clock tower's former ruin and abuse remain alive in the playful ghost stories inspired by its rich history.

Mr Li Jiexun, a 33-year-old alumnus who now teaches chemistry at HCI's junior college section, said: "We've all had seniors scare us with ghost stories about the clock tower, like how people who go up never come back down."

But to 76-year-old Ng Cheng Kok, an old boy who graduated in 1959, the clock tower was scary not for horror stories but the principal's office. "When you've done something wrong, that's the place you go to get punished!" said Mr Ng, now a retired real estate developer.

The principal's office has since moved but the large, airy classrooms flanking the clock tower remain. These are reserved for the brightest students.

"During my time, only the top eight classes got to study in the clock tower classrooms, so we really worked hard to get in," said Mr Li, who managed to make it to one of the eight coveted classrooms.

The classrooms are now reserved for students in special programmes like the Science and Math Talent Programme.

Designed by Swan & Maclaren, also behind Raffles Hotel and Sultan Mosque, the clock tower was always meant to inspire excellence.

With neoclassical elements like stately columns, arched doorways and windows, the clock tower is said to evoke elite institutions such as Cambridge and Harvard.

It is fitting, then, that HCI should be one of the island's most prestigious institutions. As the first secondary and high school to be established specifically for the Chinese community in Singapore, the school was initially named the Singapore Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School.

To students, the clock tower was not just a representation of their school, but their home as well.

Mr Lim Han Xin stayed in the on-campus boarding school during his six years of study at HCI as a Malaysian scholar.

The 22-year-old Batu Pahat native, who is currently studying psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, said: "Every time I head back to boarding school, no matter where I'm coming from, the clock tower is the first thing I see. It's the thing that lets me know that I'm home."

The clock tower is a place of great sentimental value for many Chinese High old boys.

Said Mr Mak: "I remember when I left the school, I looked up at the tower and told it to wait for me to come back and repay it one day."

So has he honoured his promise?

Gesturing towards the carefully manicured plants and shrubs surrounding the tower, he says: "Well, you see all these trees? All donated from my nursery!"

This article was first published on September 1, 2016.
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Scientists in Singapore have developed a kit that can test for the dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses all at the same time in a matter of two hours.

Now ready for use, the kit costs only a few dollars to produce and has attracted interest from other countries and even the World Health Organisation (WHO), said Dr Masafumi Inoue, a senior research scientist at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*Star) Experimental Therapeutics Centre who is part of the team that developed the kit.

The made-in-Singapore kit is among others that the WHO is interested in testing, he said.

He added that he is currently compiling clinical data for the health authority before sending the kit over for testing. If successful, it could be used by the WHO to test for the viruses.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

The three mosquito-borne viruses here cause similar symptoms such as rashes and joint pain. Symptoms for the Zika virus are generally mild and go away within a week.

"It is important to quickly distinguish between the three major (and prevalent) mosquito-borne viruses here... This will not only lessen the mental stress on the patient and give the patient peace of mind, but also ensure that he or she can receive the appropriate sort of treatment and care without delay," said Dr Inoue.

All that is required from the patient is a blood or urine sample. The genetic material of the virus is then extracted to find out what the virus is.

The detection process takes two hours, reducing the time by threefold if each of the viruses were to be tested for individually.

Dr Wong Sin Yew, an infectious diseases physician at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said early diagnosis will help in public health control efforts.

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

"In the case of mosquito-borne infections, it will allow the NEA (National Environment Agency) to focus on intensive vector control measures in new areas and intensify measures in large outbreak areas," added Dr Wong.

While a similar kit has been developed by the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, it is not readily available here, said Dr Inoue.

The idea to develop the kit came about six months ago when Brazil had been hit badly by the surge in Zika cases. That was when Dr Inoue and Dr Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, senior principal investigator at A*Star's Bioinformatics Institute, decided to work with Tan Tock Seng Hospital on this project.

"We anticipated that it was a matter of time before the Zika virus would affect Singapore," said Dr Inoue.

A*Star Experimental Therapeutics Centre's senior research scientist Masafumi Inoue (left) and research associates Gerald Yong and Karen Lee were part of the team behind the kit that can test for dengue, chikungunya and Zika at the same time. Photo: The Straits Times

Moving forward, Dr Inoue and his team hope to expand the scope of the kit to include other viruses that, together with Zika, could cause microcephaly - a condition where children are born with abnormally small heads.

An article published by the Nature journal last month cited studies showing it might not be Zika alone that causes the condition. Apart from socio-economic reasons, other factors might be at play.

For instance, a recent paper by Brazilian scientists found a correlation between low vaccination rates for yellow fever and the microcephaly clusters in Brazil.

An overwhelming majority of confirmed cases of microcephaly or birth defects of the central nervous system reported in Brazil since last November were in the north-eastern part of the country.

This article was first published on September 1, 2016.
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A taxi driver "lost control" of his vehicle, causing an accident which left three people in hospital and a trail of destruction across all eight lanes of Scotts Road yesterday.

Witnesses said the blue ComfortDelGro cab was exiting Claymore Hill beside Shaw House when it barged past a white Toyota Alphard, before hitting a passing Hyundai Avante just before 2pm.

It then crashed through the centre divider and hit a passing dark grey Volvo on the other side, before coming to a stop against a lamp post in front of Scotts Square.

One of the three injured being taken to hospital. Photo: The Straits Times

The impact was so strong that the Volvo's airbags were deployed.

The taxi driver - thought to be a man in his 60s - was taken to hospital unconscious with a head wound, along with the driver of the Hyundai and a boy understood to have been a passenger in the Volvo.

Mr Jumaat Azhar, 24, who works at the nearby Michael Kors outlet, told The Straits Times: "The taxi driver was completely covered in blood and unconscious. I think he was bleeding from his head."

He rushed out to help after hearing "a loud bang". Mr Jumaat added that a man was attending to the taxi driver, so he called 995 before sprinting back into the mall to get an automated external defibrillator kit.

"The accident caused a traffic jam that stretched all the way back beyond what I could see," he said.

The driver of the seven-seater Toyota Alphard, Mr Hisham Badarun, 47, a driver for a construction company, told The Straits Times he was waiting to filter onto Scotts Road from Claymore Hill when he was struck by the taxi.

"It hit me from behind, then reversed, then moved forward and hit me again, before squeezing past on my left side onto the main road. I think the driver lost control of the vehicle." Except for "a big shock", Mr Hisham was fine. His was the only vehicle in which everyone escaped unscathed.

The driver of the silver Hyundai Avante, Mr Rashid Hassim, 32, was heading to his office in Tampines from Ion Orchard.

"It was loud, and my car spun. Now, the left side of my body is in pain, from my chest to my leg," said the IT support engineer.

The conditions of the taxi driver and boy were not known last night. The Singapore Civil Defence Force sent three ambulances to the scene. Police are investigating.

This article was first published on September 01, 2016.
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This year's Mid-Autumn Festival light-up in Chinatown will be brighter, more colourful - and greener.

Instead of traditional light bulbs, some 10,000 LED light bulbs and 20,000m of LED light cables are being used in the decorations for the annual event.

LED lights consume less electricity but shine brighter than traditional lights. LED lights also come in a variety of colours. They will light up the decorations in Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road when the festival is officially launched this Saturday.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Mooncake Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. That falls on Sept 15 this year.

The centrepiece of the decorations is a 12m-tall Chang Er, the mythological moon goddess.

There are also three large lantern sets: Chang Er's Moon Palace; the famous archer Hou Yi, who saved the earth by shooting down nine of the 10 suns in the sky; and the Jade Rabbit, Chang Er's companion on the moon.

The decorations were designed and conceptualised by students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa). This is the second year the festival's organising committee - the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee - has worked with Nafa students.

The eight students from the School of Art and Design, aged between 17 and 22, focused on the legends surrounding the festival.

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Said Mr Chua Jia Hong, 19: "A lot of us were told this folklore as standalone stories, but through research we realised that all these stories were connected, like how Hou Yi was Chang Er's husband."

Probably started to celebrate the harvest, the Mid-Autumn Festival later became associated with the legend of Chang Er. She was married to Hou Yi and floated to the moon after drinking the elixir of life.

In Chinatown, the students' designs came to life in the hands of 36 professional craftsmen from Sichuan, China. The intricate process of making the lanterns impressed the students.

Mr Chua said: "Many things are now mass produced so we thought these decorations were mass produced too. But everything is made by hand."

Indeed, making the 900 lanterns for this year's light-up was no easy feat.

The craftsmen first made the structures based on the students' designs. Electric lights were added to the structures before pieces of coloured cloth were attached. The lanterns were then painted and installed.

One of the craftsmen, Mr Guo Decai, 34, said: "The students don't have much practical experience in three-dimensional designs, so both sides had to work together to execute their designs."

Yet, it is the relative inexperience of the students that keeps the ideas fresh.

Dr Lily Neo, adviser of the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee and MP for Jalan Besar GRC, which Chinatown is part of, said: "This partnership allows our young creative talents to inject their creativity and ingenuity into the street decorations, involves the youth in our cultural festivals and gives them a wonderful platform to showcase their work."

This article was first published on September 1, 2016.
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Ms Norashikin Baharul Hisham is keeping all the windows in her flat shut, even though it gets stuffy.

The 31-year-old housewife, who is five months pregnant, is afraid of letting in mosquitoes which carry the Zika virus.

The Ministry of Health said yesterday a pregnant woman living in the cluster around Sims Drive and Aljunied Crescent had been infected. But expectant mothers everywhere are fretting, even those who do not live near the affected areas.

Zika is associated with microcephaly in unborn babies, a birth defect in which they are born with abnormally small heads.

Ms Norashikin, who lives in a Bukit Batok rental flat, tries not to go out in the day and keeps her windows shut against the Aedes mosquito, which spreads the virus.

"I cannot sleep at night because I am so worried," she said.

Housewife Alice Seo, who is 21 weeks pregnant, left Singapore for San Francisco to see friends and family a few days before the outbreak. The 36-year-old is now wondering whether to stay abroad for a while longer or even give birth in the United States.

Locally-transmitted Zika in Singapore

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The Straits Times, The New Paper

"My husband and I are still thinking about it, and trying to weigh the pros and cons," said the American who is based here.

"But (the latest news) sways me more towards staying in the States a little longer until the Zika situation gets under control."

Some mothers-to-be are choosing to go out less, avoiding open areas and checking their homes for stagnant water. Administration executive Elin Tay, 39, who is seven weeks pregnant, said: "I used to go to the mall, but now I only go to work and to the hospital."

What is the Zika virus?

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Reuters, The Straits Times, The New Paper, NEA

Joo Chiat resident Koh YL, who is 37 weeks pregnant, said she and her husband discussed moving to her mother's place in Lucky Heights. They had even joked about having her labour induced early, although they later decided not to explore that option, said the 37-year-old editorial consultant.

Dr Wee Horng Yen, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at O & G Care Clinic, said inducing labour was not advisable.

"Instead, women near term can exercise strict precautions of avoiding being bitten and abstinence from sexual intercourse," he said.

Allied educator Juliana Jamal, 29, who is expecting her third child any day now, said: "I just pray this baby comes out quickly before anything can happen."

- Additional reporting by Linette Lai

This article was first published on Sep 01, 2016.
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As the haze returns, consumers are being urged not to support firms whose products are made using irresponsible methods of clearing land that might cause forest fires.

And with more products being certified eco-friendly under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS), consumers have a greater range of green choices.

"Since the haze episode last year, we have seen an increase of 90 new companies coming on board the SGLS with 10 per cent more products in the paper, pulp and wood category," said Mr Chong Khai Sin, lead environmental engineer and head of eco-certifications at the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). In a joint statement on Tuesday, the SEC and the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) repeated their call for consumers - both individuals and businesses - to buy sustainably produced products.

"We are disappointed that the haze problem has returned again this year," said the organisations. "This haze represents the growing demand for both paper as well as palm oil products."

In its daily haze advisory yesterday, the National Environment Agency noted that air quality was in the Good to Moderate range but "slightly hazy conditions" can be expected over the weekend if fires emerge in Sumatra and the situation deteriorates.

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The SEC and Case called for businesses to boycott products produced through slash-and-burn methods, and for consumers to buy paper and palm oil products only from sustainable sources.

Consumer products on the "white list" carry a Green Label.

Overall, the Green Labelling Scheme represents more than 3,000 products from 500 companies. These include paper products from established brands, such as Scott toilet paper, FairPrice tissue paper, and printing paper from PaperOne.

There are also products from smaller local firms, such as Gooodlife toilet roll from Tipex and Prefer tissue paper from Scanpap (Asia Pacific). The full list can be found on the Green Label website.

In April, the SEC announced a new "SGLS Plus" category, which focuses on pulp and paper manufacturers and mill operators. This category will look at additional aspects such as a firm's fire mitigation and management practices, management of peatlands, commitment to zero burning, and site surveillance. More details on SGLS Plus will be announced at a later stage, said the SEC.

Singapore Paper Merchants Association vice-president Chua Kee Teang noted that many firms - including his own, Mukim Fine Papers - are committed to the scheme and have Green Label-certified products.

But for smaller firms, the cost of certification could be a barrier, he said. Per product, a new Green Label application costs $1,500 and each annual renewal costs $1,000.

This article was first published on September 1, 2016.
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SINGAPORE - A total of 100 participants in 50 cars signed up for the seventh edition of Torque magazine's thematic islandwide automotive telematch called Torque On The Move.

Held on Aug 27, the theme for this year was "Stretch Your Motoring Dollar". With two team members to a car, participants were flagged off from Tree Lizard Restaurant & Bar at Dempsey Hill at 9.30am.

They had to decipher location clues to arrive at four compulsory checkpoints known as Torque Junctions, located at Komoco's Hyundai showroom, a Bridgestone store, a Hevshop workshop and the Ultimate Drive outlet in Suntec City.

The challenges at the Torque Junctions put the participants' teamwork, creativity and motoring knowledge to the test.

Additional points were assigned to those already earned by the participants in the pre-event and islandwide bonus challenges.

Torque is Singapore's leading motoring monthly magazine published by SPH Magazines.

The end point was at SPH Media Centre at Genting Lane where the three top-scoring teams collected their prizes on the winners' podium.

Torque On The Move challenge

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Torque

They were:

1st Team: 39 Matthew Tai and Kenneth Lim

2nd Team: 09 Anthony Soh and Chen Zhaolin

3rd Team: 08 Abel Tan and Amos Tan

The team in pole position won a $5,300 top prize consisting of a week-long drive in a selected Hyundai car, a set of Bridgestone Turanza GR-100 tyres, a two-year Hevshop VIP servicing package and exclusive passes to a Formula 1 driver autograph session at the Formula One Paddock Club Lifestyle Area.

Mr Tai, 26, from the winning team, said: "Torque On The Move 2016 was not only enjoyable and well-planned, but the pre-event and bonus challenges provided an added dimension of fun and entertainment.

"The time spent driving around Singapore while solving various clues along the way was fun, exciting and educational. This is definitely Singapore's best automotive telematch."

spanaech@sph.com.sg