Zika Virus may not affect Sabahans

People from Sabah may not be affected by the Zika virus because they could have inborn antibodies, said Dr Kamruddin Ahmed, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences professor of the University Malaysia Sabah in an open forum conducted.  The virus was found in apes in Sabah as early as the 1960s and may have also been in humans.  Due to reforestation and other events that lead to more animal-human contact, the Zika virus must have spread to humans, thus, making most of the Sabahans resistant to the virus due to natural anti-bodies within themselves.  The strain of the Zika virus in Malaysia is different from that in South America.

Vaccaine against Zika Virus

He also added that international scientists are close to formulating a vaccine against the virus.  He also advised the public to take the necessary precautions even if Sabahans are less likely to contract the virus.  Dr Jiloris Julian Dony, Kota Kinabalu Health Office public health medicine consultant, suggested using mosquito nets, spraying insect repellants on the body and wearing clothes that mostly cover the skin.