HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City authorities on October 18 announced a Zika outbreak on communal and ward scale.
The outbreak occurred in Hiep Thanh ward, district 12 and An Phu ward, district 2.
Earlier on October 15, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City discovered two additional Zika cases in Hiep Thanh and An Phu wards, bringing the city’s total Zika infections to 4.
Earlier, the Zika outbreak was also announced at Phuoc Long B ward, district 9.
On the occasion, the municipal People’s Committee asked the Director of the Health Department, district and communal authorities to work closely with relevant agencies to launch precautionary measures in line with the Law on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases.
The same day, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thu held a working session with authorities of district 2 where two Zika cases have been recorded so far.
She requested screening mosquito-prone areas, called on youths to clean up residential areas every Sunday, and asked for communications activities to raise public awareness of combating dengue fever and the Zika virus.
Nguyen Tan Binh, Director of the municipal Health Department, said the department will take more Zika virus samples at private clinics as well as coordinate with private pharmacies to offer advice to locals when they show suspected symptoms.
The municipal authorities asked 24 communes and districts to keep a close watch of the situation, kill larvae in households and residential areas as well as clean up the environment./.
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