For our first assignment, we were tasked with covering the Zika situation in Singapore, and to write a reaction piece on it.
Passivity and panic about Zika
It has been 56 years since Singapore first struggled with dengue, but the fear of the virus still lingers. It has been about a month since she first faced locally transmitted Zika, but many Singaporeans have already moved on.
The number of local Zika infections in Singapore has risen to 392 as of last Friday, and although the rate of infection has decreased, the National Environment Agency’s efforts have not. Checks for mosquito breeding grounds are conducted at least thrice a week at affected clusters, said Clean Solutions inspector, Buang Hamid, 73.
Bishan Street 12 was the first cluster to close, but even before its closure, National Serviceman Jordan Lee was unfazed. The 22-year-old Bishan resident said that he did not hear of Zika severely affecting non-pregnant individuals, and so did not fear contracting it.
“Most people get their cues from the media, and when the media start to report less on Zika, people tend to move on to other interesting issues,” he added.
The general consensus seems to be that Zika is not worth worrying about anymore. DVB Bank human resources Vice President Natalie Siew, 33, said that as people learn more about Zika, they become less concerned. “There hasn’t been any Zika-related microcephaly cases or deaths here,” she said, “compared to dengue which is more fatal.”
Although many have lost their fears, some are still worried about the virus. Housewife Cecilia Liu, 59, is one of them. Despite understanding the unlikelihood of her 14-month-old granddaughter suffering from any severe implications were she to get infected, Mrs Liu continued to take precautions. She avoided taking her to parks and dressed her in long sleeves, attributing her actions to the “Singaporean Kiasu” in her.
Also covering up in long sleeves is mother-to-be Danielle Low, 30. Mrs Low admits that although she is worried that her baby may get infected, she knows that she cannot guarantee her baby’s safety no matter what she wears or sprays on her body. “But I won’t be complacent”, she added.
Recognising how many who are not pregnant neglect practising Zika precautions, Dr Wong Ted Min, 57, a General Practitioner at Family Health Clinic and Surgery, urges the public to prevent mosquito breeding to stop further spread of the virus.
“Be mindful of your social responsibilities and ensure that foolish or careless acts that endanger others is avoided,” he said.
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