A workshop took place in Da Nang on Wednesday which was aimed at preventing any outbreaks of summer diseases or those related to the Zika virus.

The event had been jointly organised by the Central Department of Preventive Medicine under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to WHO, as of this month 67 countries and territories worldwide have reported Zika virus-infected cases.  57 of them have seen an increasing Zika virus transmission through bites from the Aedes mosquitoes.  Most notably, 80% of people infected with the Zika virus have not shown any symptoms, so it is difficult to thoroughly eradicate Zika outbreaks.

In Viet Nam, the Pasteur Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has tested 2,266 samples collected from people showing Zika virus symptoms.  In the end, only 2 have tested positive.

The WHO representatives recommended that people should prevent mosquito bites and take the initiative to kill mosquitoes and mosquito larvae in order to prevent the transmission of the Zika virus.

As for summer diseases, the Department of Preventive Medicine encouraged local residents to raise their awareness of food hygiene and safety, and environmental protection.