International News

HANOI, (APP/AFP): Two Vietnamese women
have tested positive for the Zika virus, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday, the first confirmed cases of the mosquito-transmitted infection in the Southeast Asian country.
A 64-year-old from the popular beach resort of Nha Trang became the
country’s first confirmed case after being admitted to hospital complaining of fever, headache and a rash on her legs, the ministry said in a statement.
“She tested positive to Zika virus on 31 March 2016 at Nha Trang’s
Pasteur Institute,” and the results have been confirmed by further testing, the statement said.
The second confirmed case was a 33-year-old woman who lived in
Vietnam’s southern business hub Ho Chi Minh City.
“She had symptoms including a rash, conjunctivitis, and fatigue,” the
statement said, adding that she tested positive for Zika last Thursday.
Both patients are in a stable condition and the ministry has monitored
the relatives and friends of the two women but “did not detect any other cases,” of the virus, which has been linked to increased rates of microcephaly in babies born to infected mothers.