Ho Chi Minh City is offering more advice and tests for pregnant women amidst fear of the Zika virus, with 17 cases reported in the southern city by October 31; Binh Duong and Dak Lak have instructed their health departments to coordinate with relevant agencies in implementing measures to prevent and fight Zika virus.
The Department of Health of the southern province of Binh Duong on November 3 reported the second Zika infected case in the locality. A 20-year-old woman residing in Di An commune tested positive to the mosquito-borne virus after showing symptoms of high fever, breaking out in the rash, muscle pain, and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. The patient is not pregnant and has not traveled abroad recently. She is in stable health condition and being treated at home.
The first Zika-infected case in Binh Duong was a 27-year-old pregnant woman who is living in Thuan An commune. So far, 28 Zika-infected cases have been reported in seven localities nationwide, with the most case 21 in Ho Chi Minh City. Binh Duong has two, and Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Long An, Tra Vinh and Dak Lak each has one case.
As part of efforts to cope with the spread of the virus which transmits both Zika and dengue fever, Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee on November 3 set up a Steering Committee for the prevention and control of Zika and dengue fever.
According to Nguyen Tri Dung, head of the municipal Preventive Medicine Department, Zika virus cases have been recorded in 11 districts in the city. Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City's Pasteur Institute is testing 56 suspect cases, nine samples of which are on high risk of Zika infection. He predicts that in the coming time, Zika infections in the city may continue to rise.
Meanwhile, the city is also facing a sharp increase of dengue fever. So far this year, the city has detected 15,275 cases, up 13 percent over the same period last year. Prof. Dr. Phan Trong Lan, head of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Pasteur Institute said that the most effective measure that the city can apply is killing mosquitoes, while giving direct advices to pregnant women who are positive to Zika virus.
HCM City expands Zika virus monitoring network
Hung Vuong Hospital, which gives check-ups to about 600 pregnant women each day, has provided Zika-related advice and tests since April under Ministry of Health orders. Newly-born babies there are also examined for microcephaly, doctor Nguyen Vu My Linh said.
Similar activities are being carried out at Tu Du Hospital, which specialises in obstetrics and gynaecology. Deputy Director of the hospital Tran Ngoc Hai said there had been an increase in the number of pregnant women asking about Zika, with one in five women concerned about the mosquito-borne virus. Whenever an expectant mother shows suspect symptoms, medical workers take samples for testing and give them necessary information, he added.
One problem in screening for Zika is that the symptoms can be mistaken for those of flu, Hai said, advising pregnant women to get regular check-ups and tests when they have any two symptoms among fever, rash, arthralgia or conjunctivitis.
Phan Trong Lan, Director of the Pasteur Institute in HCM City, recommends women who intend to have a baby or are in the first three months of pregnancy avoid Zika-infected areas and mosquito bites.
On October 30, the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health confirmed Vietnam's first microcephaly likely Zika case in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.
Binh Duong, Dak Lak take measures against Zika virus
 |
A health staff is instructing a resident on measures to remove the source of mosquitoes that is the
transmitter of Zika virus. (Source: VNA) |
The southern province of Binh Duong has instructed its health department to coordinate with relevant agencies in implementing measures to prevent and fight Zika virus.
The province on November 4 declared the epidemic caused by Zika virus at the communal or ward level. The source of the epidemic is located in Dong Hoa ward, Di An town.
The provincial People's Committee assigned the Director of the Department of Health, Chairman of People's Committees of districts, towns and Thu Giau Mot city to coordinate with relevant agencies in implementing immediate measures to prevent and fight Zika virus.
Localities in the province were asked to closely monitor the epidemic situation while boosting environmental sanitation and killing mosquito larvae in residential areas, thus preventing any new outbreaks.
Earlier on November 3, the provincial health department said a 20-year-old woman with Zika virus lives in Di An town. She got rash and high fever with muscle pain. She was hospitalised and tested positive with Zika virus.
Right after the case was found, the Ministry of Health's Preventive Medicine Department has instructed Binh Duong province's health department to spray chemicals in the area where the patient lives and closely monitor any suspected cases.
So far, Binh Duong has reported two people with Zika virus. The first case was also a woman, 27, in Thuan An town.
In related news, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has taken measures to prevent the spread of the Zika virus following the discovery of a case with small head caused by the virus.
The provincial health department has asked its subsidiaries to monitor the patient and control the spread of the virus. It has also formed two response teams to cope with the disease and boost checks at the Buon Ma Thuot airport and coach stations.
Director of the department Doan Huu Long said besides measures like spraying chemicals to kill larvae and mosquitoes, the province's health sector will coordinate with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology's office in the Central Highlands region to take samples from suspected cases for testing.