Hanoi (VNA) – 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.-VNA