Authority:Zika patients in Bangkok are recovering

BANGKOK, September 12 (TNA) - The Ministry of Public Health and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) are jointly watching out the Zika virus situation in the capital more intensifiedly, containing outbreaks of the disease to only a single area. BMA Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Wantanee Wattana told journalists of the information on Monday, saying that the joint observation during the first week of this month found 22 Zika virus patients in Bangkok's Sathon area alone, including a pregnant woman. To contain outbreaks of the Zika virus, Dr. Wantanee noted, the Ministry of Public Health and BMA's Department of Health had sent officials to the affected area to monitor the updated situation and to find out those who had been in contact with the infected patients within the standard 100 metre- radius, while also eliminating breeding sources of common house mosquitoes, the carrier of the disease. According to the senior BMA official, there have been no reports of more Zika cases in Bangkok so far and most patients have been recovering well, but a close observation of the infected cases, especially a newborn of the woman, who had earlier been pregnant, will be continued for a certain period of time. The senior BMA official stated that seven Zika virus patients who had been found during the first eight months of this year have already fully recovered. Dr. Anutarasak Ratchatatat, Assistant Director of the Vector-Borne Diseases Department, under the Thai Ministry of Public Health, told reporters, meanwhile, that 97 Zika virus cases had been found nationwide during the first eight months of this year and the situation has remained under control. (TNA)