The Ministry of Health acknowledges that chemicals killing mosquitoes suspected to cause brain atrophy are imported to Vietnam

Currently, the Ministry of Health has confirmed that chemicals killing mosquitoes suspected to cause brain atrophy in Barazil - Pyriproxyfen - are imported to Vietnam. If there is accurate information this chemical causes brain atrophy, the Ministry of Health will stop using it immediately.

Vietnam imports 9500 kg of Pyriproxyfen

According to the suspicious information, the cause of brain atrophy is not caused by Zika virus, but because of the anti-mosquito chemicals that treat malaria and dengue fever used in Brazil. Pyriproxyfen chemicals go into Brazil's drinking water supply since 2014 to kill mosquito larvae. It is produced by Sumitomo Chemical, a subsidiary of Monsanto in Japan.

The above information causes confusion for people, especially Vietnam, which uses this chemical to kill larvae and larvae in preventing dengue fever.

However, according to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, until now there has been no official information on the relationship between the chemical and brain atrophy syndrome in young children.

A baby has a small head disease.

According to WHO, this chemical is safe and recommended for use in domestic water. So far, specific research is needed. WHO has not made any recommendations about the chemicals used to kill mosquitoes that cause small head but only strongly recommend Zika virus causing this disease.

Pyriproxyfen chemical was licensed in Vietnam in 2010 and officially imported in 2013, currently sold to the market only over 2000kg, and only used in waste water, standing water in construction works to limit development. bug's bug, larvae. According to the Department of Health Environment, Vietnam has so far imported 9500kg of this chemical.

However, GS Long also emphasized the need to use this chemical in Vietnam is not large, limited use. On the other hand, this chemical in our country is not used in drinking water, living. In Brazil, this chemical is used in domestic water, but the source of information and evidence has not been specified. The WHO is investigating to gather more clear evidence.

Zika continues to be complicated

Up to this point, Zika virus has been recorded in 44 territories countries, including in China and Thailand.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Long was concerned, Zika virus spread quickly on a large scale and appeared small head syndrome, nerve root inflammation. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has met and judged that the spread of Zika virus will be complicated and the possibility of spreading into Vietnam may occur. The Ministry of Health has directed agencies to issue guidelines for diagnosis of treatment for Zika virus.

For the best prevention of disease surveillance, Deputy Minister Long said it will expand the surveillance area. Women from the epidemic area are recommended to take zika virus test samples. The cost of testing the fluid will be free.

On February 15, 2016, Ho Chi Minh City Pasteure Institute took samples at 8 points to monitor Zika virus. Patients with symptoms or no symptoms of Zika virus are tested.

What experts are most concerned about is that 80% of patients with Zika virus have no symptoms, there are cases of faint symptoms, fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius. This is difficult to diagnose clinically. The treatment only treat symptoms, not specific treatment.