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Batam hospital treats suspected Zika patient
The Embung Fatimah Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Batam, Riau Islands, has said it has treated a patient suspected to have been suffering from a fever caused by the Zika virus since Sunday.
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On alert – Passengers of a ferry arriving from Singapore pass a thermal scanner at the arrival terminal of the Batam Center International Port in Batam, Riau Islands, on Aug. 31. (Antara/MN Kanwa)
T
he Embung Fatimah Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Batam, Riau Islands, has said it has treated a patient suspected to have been suffering from a fever caused by the Zika virus since Sunday. The 25-year-old woman reportedly infected with the virus was rushed to the hospital after she arrived from Singapore.
RSUD Embung Fatimah director Afriani said the patient had been placed in an isolation room for more intensive monitoring.
“To make sure whether or not she is infected with the Zika virus, we sent her blood sample to the Health Ministry’s laboratory in Jakarta. We are still waiting for the results of the laboratory test,” said Afriani.
She said the patient showed symptoms similar to people infected with the Zika virus, such as fever and red eyes. However, it would only be confirmed by the laboratory test.
“We have isolated her and carried out an intensive monitoring to make sure that the virus is localized,” said Afriani.
The suspected patient is an Indonesian citizen living in Batam. She reportedly showed symptoms of Zika infection after she returned from Singapore.
Since Aug. 29, the Health Ministry has readied 193 port health officers in eight sea and airports serving routes to Singapore from Batam, Bintan and Karimun to anticipate the spread of Zika via passengers arriving from that country.
Passengers arriving from Singapore must be examined with thermal scanners. They are also required to fill out health alert cards before they enter Indonesian territory.
In Batam, five international sea ports serve more than 8,000 travelers who depart for and return from Singapore every day. (ebf)
