Northern Vietnam is at high Zika risk

According to the Ministry of Health, the city of Hanoi and the northern area of the country are threatened by the Zika virus

Following two infection cases in the southern Vietnam, the country is at risk for the Zika virus to also spread in the northern areas.

Despite local health experts having already imposed preventive measures to limit a potential outbreak, such as testings and quarantine zones, the mosquito-borne virus spreading to the north risk is still very high, due to the Aedes Aegypti adaptability in the region.

According to the director of the National Hospital of Tropical Disease, Prof. Nguyen Van Kinh, lack of virus exposure for the Vietnamese may translate into lower immunity and a high incidence of asymptomatic cases, therefore a higher risk of “silent” transmission.

With the first Zika cases in Vietnam emerging in April, authorities are concerned that daily international airport traffic could raise the risk of spreading, as up to 8.000 passengers arrive in Hanoi on a daily basis. Despite the airport’s efforts to scan passenger’s body temperature in the attempt of preventing further infection, five Zika cases have already been confirmed in Vietnam so far. And that number might significantly increase.

The Zika virus, carried by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, has been linked to serious birth defects and frequent miscarriages. As there is yet no vaccine for the disease, preventive measures and limiting viral exposure remain the only way to limit the threat.