An area with likely Zika transmission is notified when Zika virus is detected in wastewater or mosquito samples collected in the vicinity of reported cases. Since May 2023, NEA has implemented an integrated surveillance approach where wastewater and mosquito testing are conducted to complement existing case surveillance and provide early warning of potential Zika transmission.
This surveillance approach is particularly useful for monitoring diseases such as Zika, where only one in five infected individuals are symptomatic or present with mild symptoms. Although rare, Zika virus infection in pregnant women can cause birth defects such as microcephaly in babies.
There is currently no area with likely Zika transmission.