Many pregnant women in HCM City have visited local hospitals following fears over the Zika virus as the city has seen a sharp increase in number of people infected.
Some 85 people have contracted the Zika virus in 19 of the city's 24 districts, including 14 pregnant women. Binh Thanh District recorded the largest number of Zika infections, followed by District 2, Tan Phu District and District 12.
HCM City has detected 14 pregnant women infected with Zika virus
Among the 14 Zika-infected pregnant women who have been tested and provided with the treatment at Tu Du and Hung Vuong obstetrics hospitals, two have given birth safely; two suffered miscarriages and one had an abortion; meanwhile, nine others are staying at the hospitals for treatment.
According to Dr. Le Thanh Quang, Director of the Tu Du Obstetrics Hospital, a large number of women have come for Zika tests.
Zika test charges are currently being paid for by the HCM City People's Committee, but tests are only conducted for suspicious cases. Meanwhile, lots of pregnant women have insisted on paying for their Zika tests.
Dr. Le Thanh Quang said that many pregnant women did not properly understand how Zika infections occur, and that Zika infections were actually less dangerous than Rubella.
The risk for the virus transmission from the mother to their foetus is not high and even in cases where a pregnant woman contracts Zika, their baby may not suffer from microcephaly. With people who have good health, the risk of infection is very low.
