The Vietnamese Department of Preventive Medicine reported today (computer translated) on a case of Zika virus infection in an Australian tourist that  traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong Province in Central Highlands region, and the two south-central provinces of Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan.

Image/CIA
Image/CIA

The individual arrived in Vietnam on Feb. 26 and left Vietnam for Australia on Mar. 6. Two days later, the patient presented with symptoms of fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, conjunctivitis, nausea–all symptoms of Zika virus.

The patient has been diagnosed with Zika, according to the International Health Regulations (IHR), an international legal instrument under the World Health Organization (WHO).

This has prompted Vietnamese officials to raise the alert levels for Zika virus in the country.

The Ministry requested healthcare units to strengthen supervision and take sample tests of all cases which have similar symptoms to Zika virus infection. The ministry also asked localities to promote communications activities to guide residents in killing mosquitoes in order to prevent the disease.

Nguyen Thanh Long, deputy director of the preventive medicine department, said that the organization will also have a meeting with the Binh Thuan administration about the issue, according to Vietnamese media.

Related: 

Aedes aegypti/CDC
Aedes aegypti/CDC