PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has recorded its second case of Zika infection.

Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the patient is a 61-year-old Dusun male from Taman Public Jaya in Likas, Sabah.

He said the case, which was reported to the Ministry on Friday, is believed to be the first locally-transmitted Zika infection in the country.

“The Health Ministry is investigating further the patient’s recent travel history. It was found that this Zika infection is most likely from a local source of infection, as the patient does not have any recent travel history abroad, and was probably been bitten by an Aedes mosquito infected with Zika,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a statement on Saturday.

The patient developed a fever on Aug 27 and sought medical attention for the first time at the Luyang Health Clinic on Aug 30.

The man sought further treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2 the next day when he experienced worsening fever, muscle aches and diarrhoea.

The patient’s blood and urine samples tested positive for Zika, but his serious clinical condition could be due to existing health afflictions and not primarily due to the Zika virus.

The Health Ministry has immediately started vector control activities in residential areas and places that the patient had visited, including the elimination of Aedes breeding sites and fogging.

The patient’s close contacts will also be examined to determine if they have fever or other symptoms of Zika.

According to the Singapore Health Ministry, 11 Malaysians 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.