Ho Chi Minh City declares Zika outbreak.

On the afternoon of April 8th, Ho Chi Minh City decided to declare a Zika virus outbreak at the commune/ward level after the first case was reported in District 2.

According to Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Chief of the Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has decided to declare a Zika epidemic at the commune/ward level, specifically in Thanh My Loi ward, District 2 - where the first case was reported.

Ho Chi Minh City leaders have instructed the Director of the Department of Health and the Chairmen of the People's Committees of the districts and communes to take action.They are responsible for coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to immediately implement measures to prevent and control Zika virus disease in accordance with the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

The City People's Committee also requested increased environmental sanitation and mosquito larva eradication in residential areas and households to prevent the emergence of new outbreaks.

On the morning of April 5th, 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 8 weeks pregnant.The patient fell ill on March 29th with symptoms including fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and fatigue, and was examined at the hospital.vThe patient was taken to District 2 General Hospital on the same day. The patient's test results were positive for the Zika virus twice in a row. The sample was then sent to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for retesting, which confirmed a positive result on April 4th.Both patients are currently in good health and do not require isolation.

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

According to VNE