Vietnam raises alert level for Zika virus

The Ministry of Health on March 30 raised the alert level for Zika virus in Vietnam to level two (as has identified cases of Zika infection) although the country has so far reported no Zika case.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien chairs the conference

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien announced the information at a video conference held simultaneously on March 30 in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City's Pasteur Institute, Nha Trang's Pasteur Institute and the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Central Highlands.

Explaining for the move, Minister Tien said that several countries in Southeast Asia and in Asia have reported the circulation of the virus, particularly in neighbouring countries of Vietnam including Laos, China, Cambodia and Thailand. Thus, there is a possible risk of the Zika virus transmission in Vietnam.

Vietnam is also a tropical country with climate change factors, contributing to the possible transmission and spread of the virus. In addition, the country sees the circulation of Aedes vector which spreads both dengue and Zika.

At the conference, Head of the Preventive Medicine Department Tran Dac Phu denied the information that Vietnam has recorded four cases of Zika in Khanh Hoa.

He noted that since early this year, 784 samples have been taken from 32 provinces and cities across the country for testing and all have had negative results.

The Health Ministry asked the entire health sector to implement activities to prevent the spread of the Zika virus as though the disease were present in Vietnam, and strengthen the health declaration applied to visitors from countries with major outbreaks including Brazil and Colombia, among others, in addition to enhancing mosquito control.

So far, 61 countries and territories have reported the circulation or spread of Zika virus with 30 countries identified in March.

(Source: NDO)