The authorities stepped up efforts to contain the Zika virus Monday even as 15 new cases surfaced.

This brings the total number of people who have been locally infected to 56 - and more are likely to be uncovered, warn the authorities.

National Environment Agency (NEA) officials fogged, misted and sprayed the cluster of Aljunied Crescent and Sims Drive, where the outbreak has taken place.

They inspected over half the 6,000 premises and destroyed 36 mosquito breeding habitats - 22 in homes and 14 in common areas and other spots. NEA has also inspected more than 900 premises at Sembawang Drive, and detected and destroyed one breeding site in a residence in that area.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is advising mothers- to-be to avoid areas with "local transmission" of the virus, according to its website.

The mosquito-borne viral infection is generally mild, except for its effect on unborn babies. It can cause brain damage in a small number of babies if the mother is infected during pregnancy, especially in the early months.

One mother-to-be is not taking any chances. On Monday, 28-year- old housewife Sherynn Ellyadi, who is 38 weeks pregnant, moved out of her flat in Block 54, Sims Drive, where she lived with her mother and five children, her mother Lela Noordin, 60, told The Straits Times. Sherynn has moved to her in-laws' home in Woodlands.

In a joint statement with NEA, MOH said it expects more cases to emerge as it continues its probe into people living around Sims Drive and Aljunied Crescent who previously had symptoms of the Zika infection.

"MOH will continue to work with GPs in the area to offer testing for patients who had fever and rash previously," they said.

"The look-back exercise will likely uncover more previously undiagnosed cases of Zika."

Popular

New Dutch coalition government wants 'strictest' asylum policy

Single-class hospital care scheme will not affect premiums yet, BPJS says

Ukrainians, Russian face death over Bali drug lab: Police