A 61-year-old man from Sabah was tested positive for the mosquito-born virus and it is believed to be the first locally transmitted Zika infection in the country.
Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that this Zika infection is most likely from a local source, as the patient did not have any recent travelling history abroad and was probably been bitten by an Aedes mosquito infected with Zika.
The patient developed a fever on Aug 27 and sought medical attention for the first time at the Luyang Health Clinic on Aug 30. He then experienced worsening fever, muscle aches and diarrhoea on the next day.
The man sought further treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2 and found that his blood and urine samples tested positive for Zika.
The Health Ministry has immediately started vector control activities in residential areas and as well as the places the patient had visited.
Singapore Health Ministry reported that there are 11 Malaysians who are confirmed to be infected with the Zika virus.
Ten of them live and work in Singapore, while one person is working in Singapore but residing in Johor.