Thai PM orders comprehensive actions against Zika virus

BANGKOK, September 12 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has instructed the Ministry of Public Health and all local public health offices nationwide to prevent and closely monitor outbreaks of Zika virus in their jurisdictions with comprehensive actions to bring the common house mosquito-borne disease under control. While quoting the prime minister's order on Sunday, Thai Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists that Prime Minister General Prayut also asked for cooperation from mass media not to exacerbate the situation and cause panic among the public. The spokesman said the prime minister also ordered the Ministry of Public Health and public health offices nationwide to speed up their campaigns on inculcating the public with facts for their proper understanding about Zika virus, together with proper prevention and control measures against the viral disease. The spokesman's statement followed recent reports on 21 new patients of locally-transmitted Zika virus in Bangkok's Sathon area, including a pregnant woman who has already given birth with no complications found in her newborn. The spokesman affirmed that all the Zika virus patients have been under close care and observation of physicians and some of them have already returned to their hometowns for recovery. The spokesman acknowledged that more blood tests are needed for a further certain period of time for the newborn of the Zika virus-infected mother. Meanwhile, Dr. Amnuay Kajina, Director-General of the Public Health Ministry's Department of Disease Control confirmed that the Zika virus situation in Thailand has been under control. Dr. Amnuay stated that Zika virus cases in Bangkok have been detected from time to time since early this year and outbreaks of the virus in the capital have been limited. The senior health official, however, suggested all sectors to eradicate breeding sources of common house mosquitoes, the carrier of both the Zika virus and the dengue fever diseases. (TNA)