KOTA KINABALU: People in Sabah may not need to be too worried about the Zika virus because they could have inborn antibodies since it is said to be endemic here. “From what scientists have researched and confirmed, we know that the orang utan are among apes or monkeys that carry the virus,” molecular epidemiologist Prof Dr Kamruddin Ahmed said. However, due to deforestation and other factors forcing more animal-human contact, the Zika virus has been spread to humans, he said during an open forum on the virus at UMS on Tuesday. He said there was also no concrete proof that microcephaly was caused by Zika virus but researchers are still trying to find answers to its cause and symptoms. Dr Kamruddin advised people to be cautious but not panic, and to take measures to ensure they do not contract the virus.

Source: The Star September 21, 2016 07:23 UTC