Ho Chi Minh city declares Zika epidemic

The Ho Chi Minh city People’s Committee on October 18^th declared a Zika virus epidemic on the communal scale, in particular, in Hiep Thanh ward in District 12 and An Phu ward at District 2.

Preventive health workers spray chemical to kill mosquitoes and larva. (Photo: VNA)

Earlier, on October 15^th, the Ho Chi Minh city Pasteur Institute detected 2 new cases of Zika virus in these two wards, raising the total number of Zika virus infections to 4 in the city.

On October 14th, the epidemic was also declared in Phuoc Long B ward in District 9.

The city People’s Committee asked the Director of the city Health Department and Chairpersons of district People’s Committees to work closely with relevant agencies to carry out preventive measures in accordance with the law on the prevention of infectious diseases.

According to Nguyen Tan Binh, Director of the city Health Department, apart from the epidemic inspection across 30 hospitals, the department will control Zika virus infection in general medical centres and private medical centres, and work with private chemist’s to give consultancy to suspected residents. “Chemist’s will help control the epidemic on a larger scale,” said Mr. Binh.

To prevent possible new outbreaks, the city People’s Committee has requested 24 districts to strictly follow the development of the epidemic; and increase environmental sanitation by killing mosquito larva in residential areas and homes./.

( Compiled by VNF )