She said, although there had not yet been any reported cases of the Zika virus in the country as of February 4, southern localities are likely to witness the appearance of the virus as about 700 passengers from South American nations, where the virus is currently most volatile, enter Vietnam via HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport every month.
The Zika virus is mainly transmitted through the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which also carries dengue fever. Moreover, 80 percent of dengue fever cases occurring in Vietnam are recorded in the south, which has suitable climate conditions for the growth of this type of mosquito.
She warned that if Zika virus appears in the south, it will possibly spread throughout the community.
The official recommended people avoid going to Zika-affected regions while those coming from virus-hit areas should use anti-mosquito chemicals for 14 days to prevent transmission of the virus.
The ministry will also provide health declaration forms to people from the affected countries to fill in, she added.
Nguyen Ba My Nhi – Deputy Director of the Tu Du Hospital in HCM City – said the hospital has recorded many microencephaly cases, but that the Zika virus has few clinical symptoms, which are also similar to those of seasonal influenza, Rubella or dengue fever. Therefore, it is difficult to diagnose if pregnant women are infected with Zika virus.
Representatives of the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases also shared these challenges in the diagnosis of Zika virus.
