Fears of Zika's effects may impact fertility, birth rates: specialists
Singapore
COUPLES may put pregnancy plans on hold in light of the spread of the Zika virus here, but if the situation continues, there could be a deeper impact on fertility and birth rates, interviewees told The Business Times on Wednesday.
Their comments come as Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) announced 33 more cases on Wednesday, including its first case of a pregnant woman who was infected with the virus.
An expecting couple, a medical practitioner and a sociologist told BT that short-term precautionary measures are necessary, but if the situation does not improve, plans to have more babies may be scuppered. While a Zika infection presents mild symptoms in adults, it is generally thought to cause microcephaly, or an abnormal smallness of the head, in foetuses.
Lawyer Low Yiyang, 33, who is expecting twins with his wife Ivy, 30, by the end of this year, said: "We know that Zika's effects on adults may be mild, but the downside risk (to unborn babies) is a real cause for concern. If we want to have a third, fourth baby, Zika is a factor to dissuade us."
Similar decisions taken by other couples may have a wider impact on society's fertility and birth rates.
Lam Kian Ming, chief executive officer of Thomson Medical Pte Ltd said: "I suspect the longer it drags on, if there are no concrete solutions, and if anxiety continues to be around, there could be an impact on the birth rate."
Sociologist Tan Ern Ser echoed the views, adding that it may spill over into the economy: "In the long term, it can affect businesses, tourism, and fertility."
Their comments come after Singapore continues to report new cases of the virus on Wednesday, the fifth day since the first case was reported. Out of the 33 cases, 24 are newly identified, while nine were from tests on previous cases. The total now stands at 115 cases.
In addition, a new cluster seems to have appeared in Bedok North in eastern Singapore, health officials said on Wednesday. It previously was clustered around Aljunied Crescent and Sims Drive in south-eastern Singapore.
The risk of an infected mother giving birth to a child with microcephaly is between one and 13 per cent, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It is this severe effect on unborn babies that affects couples the most, said Dr Lam. "That will affect pregnancy, affect decisions. Couples may hold back plans to see how the situation settles down."
In the meantime, precautionary measures such as avoiding getting bitten by mosquitoes and going for checks would have to suffice. The MOH has thus advised all pregnant women in Singapore with symptoms of Zika, and those who have male partners who are infected by the virus to be tested for Zika virus infection.
Further down the road, whether a cure or a vaccine is found to contain the virus's spread would be crucial in determining whether the situation in Singapore can be brought under control, said Dr Lam. But until "concrete solutions" such as these are found, couples' fears may affect their plans to have babies, and thus, weigh down on the nation's fertility and birth rates.
Already, Mrs Low is making significant changes to her lifestyle. She has bought "every brand of repellent possible", stays in air-conditioned enclosed spaces as much as possible, wears long-sleeved shirts and pants when heading out, and has cut down on playing Pokémon Go. While she appreciates the advisories put out by the health ministry so far, she also thinks that more could be done to allay couples' concerns.
READ MORE: Tourism industry keeps careful watch on Zika outbreak
For all our Zika coverage, go to bt.sg/zika
