Vietnam confirms first 2 cases of Zika virus

Hanoi, Apr 5: Vietnam has confirmed the country's first two cases of Zika virus. The online Vnexpress newspaper quoted Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long as saying two women, aged 64 and 33, tested positive for the virus.

The two suffer from fevers, rashes and red eyes, it said, adding the younger woman is eight weeks pregnant.

Most people who get the virus have no symptoms.

Others may suffer from a mild and brief illness, but infections in pregnant women have been strongly linked to fetal deaths and to potentially devastating birth defects.That has been common in Brazil.

Vietnamese health officials have called for stronger surveillance to fight the virus and urged people to sleep with mosquito nets.

PTI