Ministry of Health confirms 9.5 tons of chemicals suspected of causing brain atrophy imported into Vietnam

However, the Ministry of Health said it cannot confirm whether the mosquito-killing chemical Pyriproxyfen imported to Vietnam is the cause of brain atrophy in newborns.

In recent days, information that the mosquito-killing chemical pyriproxyfen is believed to be the cause of brain atrophy in newborns has caused public confusion because this chemical has been imported and sold in Vietnam for many years.

In response to this information, on the morning of February 16, the Ministry of Health held a press conference to provide detailed information and direct the work of preventing the intrusion and spread of Zika virus in Vietnam in the coming time. At the press conference, the Ministry of Health affirmed that no cases of Zika virus infection have been detected in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that no cases of Zika virus infection have been detected in Vietnam.

Regarding the information that the chemical pyriproxyfen that Vietnam and some other countries are using in disinfection and dengue fever prevention is related to microcephaly (brain atrophy), the Ministry of Health affirmed that this chemical is used under strict control.

A representative of the Department of Environmental Health Management, Ministry of Health, said that in Vietnam, the chemical pyriproxyfen is licensed for use in a narrow scope, not used in drinking water or domestic water, but used to treat mosquito larvae and prevent dengue fever in wastewater and construction water. Meanwhile, in Brazil, this chemical is used in drinking water and domestic water.

This chemical was licensed in Vietnam in 2010, but was not imported until 2012. By April 2014, only about 9,500 kg had been used, but only more than 2,000 kg had been sold.

The Ministry of Health said that so far there is no official information about the relationship between the above chemical and brain atrophy syndrome in young children.

The Ministry of Health affirmed that it will immediately stop using the chemical pyriproxyfen if the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) conclude that this chemical is related to microcephaly in newborns.

Currently, there are two units designated to test for Zika virus: the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Ministry of Health has also taken samples for testing at 8 locations in the South and 3 locations in the North. In the coming time, this number will increase to 1,000 locations nationwide to expand the scope of monitoring this virus.

To date, 33 countries have recorded Zika virus infections, some of which have reported imported cases from travelers returning from the Americas and the Caribbean, such as Thailand, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, the United States, France, Spain, and China.

According to GDVN