Zika virus tests advised for travellers

A Health Ministry employee fumigates a home against the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the spread of the Zika virus in Soyapango, six km east of San Salvador, on January 21, 2016. AFP

Cambodians who have recently travelled to Africa or the Americas are advised to get a check-up if they are concerned over potentially being infected with the Zika virus, the Ministry of Health’s Centre for Disease Control Department (CDC) announced on Facebook yesterday.

CDC director Ly Sovan said that while Cambodia had its last Zika case in 2010, in which the patient fully recovered, the Ministry of Health is monitoring the mosquito-borne illness.

“We have a tracking system to monitor the Zika case . . . If people have a fever, we test them to see whether they contracted Zika,” he said, adding that if a positive case were to be found, that patient would be isolated as a precaution.

Following a confirmed case of the Zika virus in Taiwan by a man travelling from Thailand, the Taiwanese Centres for Disease Control issued a travel warning for several countries in the region.

“As the first case in Taiwan was imported from the region, Taiwan CDC decided to raise the travel notice for the six countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia,” according to the advisory.

Contact author: Niem Chheng

MOST VIEWED

Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO
Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in
Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia
In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the
Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing
To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable
Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence
Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have
CP denied registration documents by ministry
The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do
Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings
Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument