Nico Rosberg has asked Mercedes for medical advice ahead of the next grand prix in Singapore, where the risk of catching the Zika virus is rated 'very high' by the Foreign Office.

The Mercedes man, who won in Italy on Sunday to narrow the gap behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton to two points, is concerned because he and his wife Vivian have recently started a family.

The mosquito-borne virus causes birth defects, notably microcephaly, where babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains. Pregnant women have been warned not to travel to Zika-affected countries.

Nico Rosberg is concerned by Zika virus fears ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix

The German driver leaps in celebration after winning the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday

Rosberg has started a family with his wife Vivian (left) and has a one-year-old daughter

The disease can also be passed on by sexual intercourse, and Greg Rutherford, the Olympic bronze medal long jumper, froze his sperm before travelling to Rio last month.

Rosberg, who has a one-year-old daughter, Alaia, said: 'As a family man now, I am very interested and am looking into it. I have started discussions about it already, actually.'

Five of the remaining seven race destinations have recorded instances of Zika. Singapore, Mexico and Brazil are all categorised as 'high risk', while Texas and Malaysia have also reported cases.

The number of incidents in Singapore has gone from zero to 242 in the last week, with mosquitoes thriving in the humid air.

Singapore, Mexico and Brazil are all 'high risk', while Texas and Malaysia have also reported cases of the Zika virus

Rosberg is showered in champagne by his Mercedes team after back-to-back wins

DRIVER'S STANDINGS 1 HAMILTON (GBR) MERCEDES 250 2 ROSBERG (GER) MERCEDES 248 3 RICCIARDO (AUS) RED BULL 161 4 VETTEL (GER) FERRARI 143 5 RAIKKONEN (FIN) FERRARI 136 Advertisement

While there is no sign yet of a mass boycott of the Singapore race on Sunday week, the FIA's doctors have drawn up extensive medical advice to guard against infection.

The teams have also issued their staff with guidelines. Eric Boullier, McLaren's racing director, said: 'We are supplying anti-mosquito products and long-sleeved outfits, and we have sent a briefing to everybody about how to take care and all the why, what and how about it. But everyone is going.'

Zika apart, Rosberg is putting talk of the drivers' title to the back of his mind, despite successive victories in Spa and Monza.

From being 19 points adrift, he is right on Hamilton's tail at the end of the European season.

Rosberg's victory in Monza has cut Lewis Hamilton's lead at the top to just two points

'I am not thinking about the championship,' said Rosberg. 'It's my best approach, so why would I change it? If I thought about my 43-point lead earlier in the season going to 19 behind I would lose sleep, so I am just enjoying winning races.'

Mercedes, the supreme team of the past three years, were surprisingly off the pace in Singapore last season.