Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) on February 5 issued guidance on diagnosis and treatment for tꦿhe Zika virus.
The Zika virus is mainly transmitted through the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also carries dengue fever. The virus has been linked to microcephaly- a condition that causes babies to be born with unusually small heads and, in vast majority of cases, damaged brains. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific medicine to treat Zika.
The Zika virus is characterised by a low grade fever (from 37.5 degree Celsius to 38 degree Celsius). The symptoms are similar to other arbovirus infections such as dengue and include skin rashes, muscle pain, joint pain with possible swelling (notable of the small joints of the hands and feet), headaches, conjunctivitis and malaise. The incubation period is usually between three and 12 days.
Pregnant women suspected of carrying the Zika virus must get ultrasound scans to detect congenital microcephaly in babies.
Suspected cases of the Zika virus include people who are travelling from Zika-hit regions, those who have at least two out of the above-mentioned clinical symptoms and those who have Guillain Barre syndrome and microcephaly, among others.
According to the MoH, no cases of Zika fever have been reported in Vietnam so far. As there is no vaccine against the virus, the best modes of prevention are to kill mosquitoes and lower the risk of being bitten.
Zika virus was first indentified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys. It was identified in humans five years later in Uganda and Tanzania .
The World Health Organisation said the Zika virus is spreading explosively. By January 19, 27 countries and territories worldwide had confirmed Zika infections.-VNA
The Ministry of Health urged the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) to strengthen its monitoring and detection of suspects infected with Zika virus at a meeting on January 29.
The Centre for International Health Quarantine of Ho Chi Minh City is carrying out various measures to prevent Zika virus from entering the country and to contain it in case the disease does occur.
The Ministry of Health is coordinating closely with relevant sectors to keep tourists from Zika virus-affected countries under strict monitoring, aiming to prevent the virus from entering Vietnam.
Thai people should not be in a panic over the Zika virus, the Public Health Ministry said on February 2, after a second case of the virus was confirmed in the country.
Vietnam runs a high risk of recording a case of Zika virus infection, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said during an inspection of virus prevention measures in Ho Chi Minh City on February 4.
All drugs entering hospitals must have a clear origin, so counterfeit drugs are only in the market, not in hospital, affirmed Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.
To achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2045, Vietnam is prioritising the integration of AI and digital tools into the training of future doctors, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Nhung, Dean of Medicine at University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University (VNU) Hanoi.
Health experts called for collective disease prevention and integrated solutions to achieve zero dengue deaths in the country at an online talk show on June 14.
The PM called for closer, broader, and more effective cooperation with Vietnamese partners, guided by the principles of mutual benefit, joint efforts, shared outcomes, and common development, including promoting stronger public-private partnerships and collaboration with businesses.
Renowned for its expertise in complex surgeries, the hospital has attracted foreign patients seeking treatment for conditions such as kidney and urinary tract stones, urological and gastrointestinal cancers, and male reproductive disorders. Most procedures are performed using advanced techniques, including laparoscopy and robotic surgery. T
Leading Vietnamese companies specialising in respiratory and dermatological treatments, traditional medicine, immune support supplements, and functional foods will have an opportunity to connect with international distributors and secure export deals.
The project aimed to enable early detection and reduce the risk of dangerous complications, targeting patients with chronic diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and metabolic disorders.
A 2023 report by the Vietnam Health Economics Association estimated that the total cost of tobacco-related healthcare and economic losses reached 108 trillion VND (4.14 billion USD) annually – equivalent to 1.14% of GDP and five times higher than the budget revenue generated by the tobacco industry.
All eligible patients will receive surgical interventions and post-operative care in accordance with Vietnamese medical standards and global care protocols.
Medical screenings and surgical interventions for children with disabilities are being carried out at health centers across Dien Bien. So far this year, 242 children have been identified for diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and the provision of assistive devices.
The Red Journey has become the country’s largest and most effective blood donation campaign, leaving a strong impression on the national voluntary blood donation movement.
This case marks the ninth fetal cardiac intervention conducted in HCM City, and it was considered the most technically demanding to date due to the fetus’s extremely early gestational age and the severity of the condition as diagnosed with aortic atresia.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place one day after the VNVC Vaccine JS Company and Sanofi Group exchanged cooperation documents on vaccine production technology transfer under the witness of State President Luong Cuong and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Vietnam’s traditional medicine took centre stage at the International Congress Biopharm Nonclinical Development, BioNCiD 2025, held on May 25-26 in the Cuban city of Varadero, amid growing global interest in sustainable healthcare solutions.
Under the agreement, VNVC and Sanofi will gradually implement technology transfers to enable domestic production of several key Sanofi vaccines that are widely used in Vietnam. In addition, Sanofi will support VNVC in training human resources and quality management in vaccine research and manufacturing.
According to the World Health Organisation, more than 25,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded globally over the past month. Notably, from January 1 to May 10, Thailand reported nearly 54,000 infections and 16 deaths. The rise in cases in Thailand has been linked to the spread of XBB.1.16 subvariant.
Recently, HCM City has experienced a noticeable increase in COVID-19 cases, with 26 reported in just one week, compared to an average of only 1-2 cases weekly earlier this year.
Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)
