Vietnam's HCM City sees more Zika patients

HO CHI MINH CITY, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has just detected five new Zika patients in Ho Chi Minh City, increasing the total in the city to 22, and the total in the country to 28, the municipal Health Department said Thursday.

The municipal authorities plan to announce on Thursday afternoon the establishment of a steering committee on preventing and fighting against Zika outbreaks.

If Ho Chi Minh City continues to spot new Zika cases, it will announce Zika outbreak at municipal level, not at communal level as currently.

People in the city can now go to 30 hospitals to have their blood tested for Zika virus free of charge.

Other Zika patients in Vietnam are from Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Binh Duong, Long An and Dak Lak provinces.