Vietnam declares the Zika epidemic over.

Since the beginning of April, after two patients tested positive for the Zika virus, no further cases have been detected, so localities have declared the Zika virus outbreak over.

Mosquitoes are the primary vector for the Zika virus. (Image: Internet)

Following the detection of the first Zika virus infection cases in Khanh Hoa province and Ho Chi Minh City, and in accordance with Decision 02/2016/QD-TTg dated January 28, 2016, of the Prime Minister stipulating the conditions for declaring and ending infectious disease outbreaks, on April 5, 2016, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province issued Decision No. 869/QD-CTUBND on the declaration of a Zika virus outbreak in Phuoc Hoa ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province.

Red eyes, similar to conjunctivitis caused by the Zika virus (Image from the Internet)

On April 6, 2016, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City issued Decision No. 1634/QD-UBND announcing the Zika virus outbreak in Thach My Loi Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.

To strengthen disease prevention and control efforts against Zika virus and dengue fever, and to minimize their spread in the community, the health sectors of Khanh Hoa province and Ho Chi Minh City have intensified surveillance, sample collection, and testing, while actively implementing large-scale mosquito and larva eradication campaigns and communicating disease prevention measures to the public.

Sleeping under a mosquito net is an effective way to prevent mosquito bites and avoid Zika virus infection (Image: Internet).

Twenty-four days have passed since the first case was reported, and no further cases of Zika virus infection have been recorded in Khanh Hoa province or Ho Chi Minh City.

On April 22, 2016, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province issued Decision No. 1046/QD-CTUBND on "Declaring the end of the Zika virus epidemic at the commune and ward level in Khanh Hoa province" effective from April 20, 2016. On the same day, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City also issued Decision No. 2018/QD-UBND on "Declaring the end of the Zika virus epidemic at the commune and ward level in Ho Chi Minh City" effective from April 22, 2016.

Thus, to date, no locality in Vietnam has reported Zika virus outbreaks at the commune or ward level.

According to Infonet