Ho Chi Minh City announces Zika epidemic

On the afternoon of April 8, Ho Chi Minh City decided to announce a Zika virus epidemic at the commune and ward level after the first case was detected in District 2.

Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, said that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just decided to announce the Zika epidemic at the commune and ward level, specifically in Thanh My Loi Ward, District 2 - where the first case was found.

Ho Chi Minh City leaders request the Director of the Department of Health and the Chairman of the People's Committees of districts and townsresponsible for coordinating with relevant departments and branches to immediately implement measures to prevent and control Zika virus disease in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

The City People's Committee also requested to strengthen environmental sanitation and destroy mosquito larvae in residential areas and households to prevent new outbreaks.

On the morning of April 5, the Ministry of Health announced the first two cases of Zika virus infection in Vietnam. The patients are a 67-year-old woman in Khanh Hoa and a 33-year-old pregnant woman living in Ho Chi Minh City. The pregnant woman was found to be infected with the virus when she was in her 8th week of pregnancy.fell ill on March 29 with symptoms of rash fever, conjunctivitis, fatigue and was examined at the hospital.vDistrict 2 General Hospital on the same day. The patient's test results were positive for Zika virus twice. The sample was then sent to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for retesting, confirming the positive result on April 4.Currently, both patients are in good health and do not need to be quarantined.

Zika virus is believed to cause microcephaly in fetuses, so pregnant women are advised to have ultrasounds on schedule. The virus is transmitted through mosquito bites, from mother to fetus, through sexual intercourse and blood. The disease has spread to 61 countries. There is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease, so the most effective method of prevention is to kill mosquitoes and larvae.

According to VNE