Between 1 per cent and 10 per cent of women infected during pregnancy give birth to babies with defects.

The most common defect is microcephaly, where the baby is born with a much smaller head, sloping forehead and damaged brain.

Related: Zika Virus: What You Need To Know To Protect Yourself And Your Family

Associate Professor Arijit Biswas, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the National University Hospital, said the risk is highest during the first trimester and the early part of the second trimester of pregnancy.

Though the risk is lower in the third trimester, the virus could still cause fatal outcomes such as stillbirth.

Related: The One Thing You Should Be Using To Repel Mosquitoes

Dr Derrick Heng, group director for public health at the Health Ministry, said: “Once the mother is infected, there is nothing much we can do to prevent the effect on the baby.”

So, taking precaution against getting bitten by mosquitoes is your best bet.

However, more than nine in 10 pregnant women infected with Zika will deliver normal babies.

If it is confirmed to have a major defect, and it is within 24 weeks of conception, abortion is a choice.

Symptoms of Zika include a fever, an itchy rash, body aches, headache, red eyes and, occasionally, nausea and vomiting.

Text: Young Parents