Should you be worried about the Zika virus when house hunting?

The Zika virus is unfortunately spreading quickly here in Singapore. There have been 115 confirmed Zika virus cases (at time of writing) mostly around the Aljunied cluster. This is a big deal, but before you start panicking over the development, let’s go over what the Zika virus really is and if it should be one of your concerns when buying a home.

What is Zika?

The Zika virus is a member of the Flaviviridae virus family and is primarily spread by an infected Aedes mosquito. Its name comes from the Zika Forest in Uganda where the virus was first found in 1947. The Zika virus is related to dengue and yellow fever. Most people infected with the Zika virus will only show mild symptoms of fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis (Red Eye), muscle pains and headaches. Symptoms usually only last for several days to a week and people don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital. Many infected carriers will not even show symptoms. People very rarely die of Zika.

Why is it risky?

If Zika only causes mild symptoms why is it such a big deal? The main problem with the Zika virus is that it causes birth defects if infected during pregnancy. The most severe problem is Microcephaly which is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of comparable sex and age. Microcephaly causes the baby’s brain to not develop properly during pregnancy and results in a smaller head size. The Zika virus has been linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome which is an uncommon sickness of the nervous system which a person’s own immune system damages the nerve cells causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

How can it affect the Singapore population?

Here is why we are at risk. The Aedes mosquito breeds easily in Singapore. These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters but can also bite at night. This becomes a problem as the vast majority of people who get infected by Zika show no symptoms of it but can be infectious though a variety of methods that can be read here. Four in five people infected with Zika do not get sick at all. As a result, it is difficult to put a lid on the spread of Zika.

The main issue here is that more than 28,000 Singaporeans are pregnant at any one time and if Zika is widespread in the community, many could get infected over their nine months of pregnancy. Studies have shown that 1-10 percent of pregnant women infected with Zika have babies with birth defects. With Singapore having close to 38,000 local births last year, this could have massive impact over our community if we do not take steps to stop Zika from spreading.

How is Singapore coping with the Zika virus?

After reports of multiple Zika cases at the construction site of Sims Urban Oasis at Sims Drive. A stop work order was issued to the 23,900 sqm site last Saturday after its housekeeping was found to be unsatisfactory with potential habitats favourable to mosquito breeding. Main contractor Woh Hup has since installed over 500 mosquito traps around the worker dormitories and throughout the Sims Urban Oasis condominium construction site. Workers are required to have their temperatures taken twice daily with three layers of protection (mosquito repellent, mosquito patch and a Parakito longer term patch) on top of mosquito netting around the dormitories. It is reported that Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck has visited the site at 60 Sims Drive and observed the additional measured being taken.

Should it affect you when buying a home?

Absolutely not! Even though the Zika virus was found to have first started around the Aljunied Crescent Cluster, there is nothing to worry about. Severe measures have been taken to proactively curb the spread of Zika. This is in addition to heavy government pressure and spotlight on the issue. Although this is a red flag for home buyers and prospective home buyers in the area, this should not stop you from looking at Sims Urban Oasis or its surrounding developments. As buying a home is a long term deal, one should not be short sighted and let news headlines affect your buying decision. The recent Zika outbreak should be something to look out for but should not be a big reason to choose a development over another.

Just remember to protect yourself. Always use mosquito repellent and go see a doctor if any symptoms come up. If you want to be extra cautious, 99.co is a great resource for anything property related.