The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, and health agencies in Da Nang, recently affirmed that the Zika virus infection is not a potentially fatal disease.

The Director of the Da Nang Preventive Medicine Centre, Dr Ton That Thanh, said “The Zika virus is not as dangerous as many people might think.  It has much milder symptoms than dengue fever.  Dengue fever patients suffer from high fever and shock, and occasionally some will die.  Meanwhile, Zika virus sufferers will develop a mild fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes, and these symptoms are usually mild and last for 5-7 days”.

The Director added, “Both children and adults might become infected with this virus if they are bitten by the Zika virus-carrying mosquitoes.  However, it is not exactly proven that those carrying the Zika virus will suffer from microcephaly”.  On the other hand, he said “All pregnant women should increase their vigilance against the Zika virus.  If infected, they should have a screening test for microcephaly, a serious defect to the baby’s brain”.

Operating a remote temperature sensor to monitor passengers' temperatures at Da Nang International Airport

According to the WHO, only one in 100 women infected by the Zika virus in early pregnancy is at risk of having a baby with microcephaly.  As a result, WHO and the Vietnamese health agencies advise that pregnant women should not travel to areas where Zika outbreaks are ongoing in order to minimise the risk of being infected.

Currently, anyone returning from a Zika virus-affected area suffering from fever but their test for dengue fever shows negative, will be given a free test for Zika virus infection at local hospitals.