KUALA LUMPUR: Rubber glove manufacturers are ready for heightened demand as hospitals across Southeast Asia use more gloves, with doctors and nurses carrying out more rigorous blood and other bodily fluid testing for the Zika virus.
Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma) president Denis Low Jau Foo said any disease spread across a big region such as Asia, will definitely trigger high alerts.
"There is a serious need to be adequately protected from the Zika virus. As such, there will be an ad hoc greater demand for medical gloves. Already, the Singapore authorities are gearing up to meet all eventualities.”
“Margma members can meet the higher demand for medical gloves," he told the New Straits Times in a telephone interview today.
Seven months ago, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminded travelers to use condoms amid an outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus that has spread to more than 60 countries.
Zika is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which also spreads dengue fever. Unlike many other mosquito-borne diseases, the Zika virus presents a grave public health threat because it is also transmitted through sexual contact.
The Zika virus spread is seeing heightened demand for condoms as doctors are advising women to avoid pregnancy. Zika virus infection during pregnancy causes severe fetal brain defects.
Early this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Zika epidemic to be a global emergency. Todate, Singapore confirmed 115 Zika cases. The US government, along with Australia, Taiwan and South Korea warned pregnant women not to travel to Singapore.
This morning, Malaysia's Health Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said information obtained from Singapore's Ministry of Health, revealed there are five Malaysians residing and working in Singapore who have also been infected with Zika.
Subramaniam also confirmed Malaysia's first Zika case. The woman, who is now at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, tested positive for Zika after a rash and fever following her return from Singapore.
Her daughter, who works in Singapore and lives in Paya Lebar, has also been infected.
The minister said Malaysia is now on high alert.
"From the first Zika reported case, we can conclude it is easy to get infected by Zika when visiting places that have outbreaks, like Singapore."
He appealed to those, including those who visited countries with Zika outbreaks, showing symptoms of the disease – fever, red eyes, rash and muscle ache to go for blood tests.
Subramaniam said the Zika virus can also spread via sexual activities. If infected, men will have the virus in them for six months and women for two months.
"Those infected by Zika can spread the virus to another person via sex. Please use condoms or abstain from sexual activities during this period. Pregnant women or those planning to get pregnant should seek advice from their doctors to avoid any complications," the minister said.
It looks like this disease outbreak could also be a boon for Karex Bhd, the world’s biggest condom manufacturer.
“We’re able to meet heightened demand for condoms. Our annual installed capacity is set to rise to six billion pieces by the end of 2016,” said Karex chief executive officer Goh Miah Kiat, in a separate interview.