Ho Chi Minh City urgently deal with Zika

In the afternoon of October 19, the HCM City People's Committee held a meeting to deploy the prevention and control of Zika disease with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Health and other departments, agencies and key hospitals.

Classify risk areas

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tan Binh, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, in addition to establishing supervisory inspection teams, the Department has directed the identification and intervention of risk areas based on the steering index, mosquito index and classified into high risk areas, moderate risk and low risk. Results recorded in eight key districts showed that: High risk areas are concentrated in Binh Chanh (98%), Thu Duc (70%), Hoc Mon (53%); risk areas are concentrated in Tan Phu, District 8, Tan Binh.

In addition, the Department will also coordinate with Pasteur Institute to carry out screening cases at 30 hospitals across the city. From April to now, hospitals have transferred nearly 800 samples to the Pasteur Institute. In addition, in order to prevent and fight small-headed dysfunction, hospitals will focus on finding pregnant women with Zika symptoms to manage and monitor their babies and babies; increase early detection screening to avoid small head defects at birth; detected abnormal birth fetal brain during pregnancy or after birth .

According to Dr. Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, Director of Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, for cases of suspicion of Zika, all pregnant women must be screened for minor head defects through ultrasound. , measure the head circumference diameter compared to the femur. However, in order to avoid confusing women, the hospital will clearly advise women on symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, etc. during pregnancy to get tested.

Pregnant women with suspected Zika infection will be advised by the hospital how to test for microcephaly.(Photo: HTD).

Working closely with clinics

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Trong Lan, Director of Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, has just discovered a case of Zika disease in District 5, bringing the total number of Zika virus cases in Ho Chi Minh City to five (two cases in District 2, three remaining cases in District 9, District 12 and District 5, each with one case.

Particularly in District 2, Dr. Phan Thanh Phuoc, Director of the District Preventive Medicine Center, said both cases of Zika in District 2 were actively detected by the district health sector.

According to Mr. Phuoc, An Phu ward patient is a woman (22 years old), a trader. On 11/10, patients with typhus should go to the local clinic."Because of the earlier implementation, the clinic actively took samples of patients' blood and sent them to Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute. After the official results of Zika virus patients, District 2 Preventive Medicine Center conducted investigation and supervision of cases " - Dr. Phuoc said.

The survey results show that in the 200m radius, the patient has many stagnant water points. Therefore, the health sector mobilizes total sanitation resources for four weeks continuously, while spraying chemicals to kill mosquitoes and larvae.

"Monitoring diseases in private clinics is very important. Therefore, the health sector should also closely coordinate hospitals with these units to actively detect and promptly handle new cases" - BS Phuoc proposed.

Dr. Nguyen Tri Dung, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Preventive Medicine Center, said after receiving information about suspected cases of Zika virus in the monitoring system, the center cooperates with preventive medicine district. conduct epidemiological investigations at home and around patient areas. At the same time, spraying insecticide chemicals within the outbreak scope under the guidance of the Ministry of Health. In addition, communication activities and counseling directly for pregnant women within the scope of outbreaks, monitoring and detection of new cases are also implemented immediately.