No evidence Zika in Singapore more or less severe than strain in Americas: media

A pregnant couple walk together at a potential zika cluster in Singapore (Copyright Reuters 2016)

SINGAPORE – There is no evidence a strain of the Zika virus that has broken out in Singapore is more or less severe than the one circulating in Latin America, media reported on Thursday, citing the health ministry.

An analysis of the virus found in two cases of local transmission in Singapore showed it belonged to an Asian lineage and it likely evolved from a strain already circulating in Southeast Asia, the Straits Times newspaper said on its website.

The analysis will be made available for the benefit of the global scientific community, including the World Health Organization, the newspaper said.