Spraying chemicals to kill larvae

The patients are two women living in districts 2 and 12. They were tested positive for the virus after suffering from fever, hives, muscle pains, and conjunctivitis. They were found to not go travelling nor have contact with infected people.

The department said Ho Chi Minh City has so far recorded four cases of Zika virus. The three others are in the southern province of Binh Duong, and the central provinces of Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen.

The MoH has been taking measures to prevent the disease, including intensifying activities of the Health Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) and running campaigns to raise public awareness of preventing the disease.

Localities, offices, and households are encouraged to spray chemicals to kill larvae, especially in the high-risk areas.

The ministry requested the people, especially pregnant and those planned to have baby to strictly follow medical recommendations, towards preventing the spread of the disease.

The Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily through Aedes aegypty mosquito bites and sexual intercourse.

The symptoms of Zika infection include fever, conjunctivitis, headaches and muscle pains. Zika infection during pregnancy may lead to microcephaly in children, which is responsible for incomplete brain development and an unusually small head.

A vaccine for the Zika virus has yet to be discovered.

VNA