Two more women in Ho Chi Minh City infected with Zika virus

The Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City has just discovered two new cases of Zika virus infection, bringing the number of patients to seven. The Ministry of Health recommends that pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant pay attention to disease prevention.

The first case is a 22-year-old female patient living in District 2, with symptoms of rash, fever, hand joint pain, and conjunctivitis in both eyes. The second case is a 43-year-old female patient in District 12, with symptoms of papular rash, fever of 39 degrees Celsius, and muscle pain. Currently, the two patients are stable and are monitoring their health at home.

So far, Vietnam has had 7 cases of Zika virus infection, of which Ho Chi Minh City has the most 4 cases, Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen each have one patient. Experts say that in the near future, there may be more new cases of infection in the community.

To prevent Zika virus disease, the Ministry of Health continues to take epidemic prevention measures, such as: strengthening the activities of the Emergency Epidemic Response Office; providing guidance, monitoring, and collecting samples for testing; organizing mosquito and larvae eradication to prevent disease in 63 provinces and cities... The Ministry of Health recommends that people, especially pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant, take good measures to prevent the disease to avoid spreading it to individuals and the community.

The Ministry of Health recommends that women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant:

- Do not travel to epidemic areas unless absolutely necessary. In case you must travel to an epidemic area, you should carefully research information about the disease and medical care conditions, and take measures to prevent mosquito bites to avoid transmitting the Zika virus.

- Pregnant women in epidemic areas and returning from epidemic areas who have symptoms such as fever, rash or other signs of the disease should go to a medical facility to proactively declare their travel history and receive examination, consultation and regular prenatal check-ups.

- Pregnant women in the first 3 months, living or having been to an epidemic area with fever or rash and at least one of the symptoms of muscle/joint pain, conjunctivitis need to be tested for Zika virus.

- Couples and partners living in epidemic areas or returning from epidemic areas who intend to get pregnant should go to a medical facility for examination and consultation before deciding to get pregnant.

- People returning from epidemic areas need to use condoms during sex or abstain from sex with their wives (partners) during pregnancy or for at least 6 months to avoid transmitting the Zika virus.

According to VNE