China tightens quarantine against Zika

China has tightened quarantine and inspections in its southeast Guangdong Province to prevent the entry of Zika virus which has spread in some Southeast Asian countries.
Since the beginning of August, the inspection and quarantine bureau of the Guangzhou Baiyun Airport has carried out checks on 74 passengers with symptoms from Zika-hit countries or regions.
No Zika infection cases have been found, said the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.
The airport alone has a daily average of 14 flights to and from Singapore, about 2,500 entry or exit passengers.
Current high temperatures and humid weather in Guangdong increased the likelihood of a Zika epidemic, said the provincial bureau.

Singapore had confirmed 17 new cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 275.

Other Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Thailand, have also reported Zika cases.
The Baiyun Airport inspection and quarantine personnel provide free tests of Zika virus for passengers.
It advised citizens to be cautious of travelling to affected countries or regions. Zika virus is acquired through bites from infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Common symptoms include fever, skin rash and joint pain.