KLANG, Sept 2 — Word of the country’s first confirmed Zika case has left shopkeepers jittery in Bandar Botanic, where the victim lives.

Business operators met by Malay Mail said they learnt about the case from news reports and social media and some expressed concern it could potentially scare off customers.

Restaurant manager Wan Din, 25, said there had been a slight drop in customers throughout the day.

"Usually we get about 100 people during peak hours, since this is largely an office area.  Today, it was about 70 people or so. The drop is noticeable but not too bad,” he said.

"Although there has only been one case reported in the country, I hope the authorities will take swift action to contain it before it spreads.”

Clothes trader Muhammad Shah Bakhtiar, 34, who lives in Bandar Shah Alam, said although it had been a slow day, it was "no different from any other weekday”.

"I read of the case in the papers this morning, but people here and the surrounding areas only usually come in larger numbers during the weekends or on public holidays,” he said.

He said it was too early to tell if people would be deterred from visiting the shops in Bandar Botanic.

"Of course, I’m worried about the prospect of Zika in the area. People will not come by as much. And what if it spreads beyond Bandar Botanic? I hope this does not happen,” he said.

Shopkeeper Alin Norjaya, 33, said it was business as usual.

"As with many other shops in this area, my business picks up on weekends. So today I only saw my regular patrons having their  lunch here,” she said.

"It would probably take one to two days before realisation sets in. Still, the first Zika case occurring so close here has made me extra careful. I emptied sources of unnecessary water in and around my shop, so mosquitoes do not breed. But there’s nothing more I can do for now.”

Dim sum restaurant manager Sean To, 27, was most affected by the news. The Taman Sentosa resident said his business was a "hit-and-miss”, making it hard to determine at times.

"We open at 8am and close by 3pm, so on working days we would see at least 50 per cent of the shop filled with customers,” he said.

"But when I opened this morning, less than 20 per cent of customers came by for breakfast or lunch. I think it might be due to that.”

He is, however, not overly worried about how it could impact his business.

"To be honest, I have not thought of it that far yet. I guess the only thing to do is to make sure I keep my restaurant clean so mosquitoes do breed,” he said.

Klang Municipal Council health director Azmi Muji said the Klang District Health Department fogged and conducted larvicidal operations in the morning in Jalan Kantan 5 in Bandar Botanic where the victim lives.

This was followed by smoke and ultra low volume (ULV) spraying operations in the evening.

The ULV spraying began at 6.30pm and  continued until 8pm. Ten officers sprayed water-based pesticides inside 30 units in the area including backlanes.

"The council will step up measures to counter dengue and Zika infections in Klang following the first suspected case of the Zika disease in the country,” Azmi said.

Selangor health, welfare, women and family affairs committee chairman Dr Daroyah Alwi advised those living in Bandar Botanic and areas nearby to stop outdoor activities during dawn and dusk for the next one week.

"Residents especially children are advised to remain indoors at times when Aedes mosquitoes are most active. The worry is mosquitos might be infected with Zika virus from biting the victim who lives in the area,” she said in a statement yesterday.

She said those who had go out during those hours should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and also use insect repellent.

Dr Daroyah also urged residents to keep their the houses and compounds free of  mosquito-breeding grounds.

"Those who have signs of fever, rash, muscle pain and headache must seek medical help as soon as possible,” she said.

She said the state government had instructed the relevant authorities to start awareness campaigns in the affected areas.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said he was aware of the Zika case and possibility the victim could have visited the city when she was infected.

"We don’t know where she had been to and we are waiting for more details. If we are needed to carry out any sort of exercise to flush out or disinfect any area in our jurisdiction, we will immediately do so,” he said.

Mhd Amin said fogging activities and awareness campaigns on dengue prevention were ongoing.