HANOI: A Vietnamese woman, 40, was diagnosed with Zika virus while travelling in Japan, according to the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health.
Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reports that the woman was bitten by mosquitoes in Vietnam, then experienced a headache and rash on the body before arriving in Japan on Sept 8.
After experiencing other symptoms such pain in joints and red eyes, the woman sought medical attention at a hospital in Tokyo on Sept 9, and, two days later she was diagnosed with Zika virus.
Prof. Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, said the department is contacting Japan’s health agency for information on the woman’s address in Vietnam.
The woman is the 11th Zika-infected case in Japan since 2013 but she is the first in Tokyo since the Japanese government raised the Zika virus warning to Level IV in February, 2016.
On Sept 13, the General Department spread messages on Zika virus control and issued guidelines on how to avoid contracting Zika and how to kill mosquitoes carrying the virus. --Bernama