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HANOI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Zika virus may get pandemic in Vietnam in 2017 as the country has source of infection and vectors that are mosquitoes causing dengue fever, said Tran Dac Phu, head of Vietnam's Ministry of Health's General Department of Preventive Medicine on Tuesday.
According to Phu, the Zika virus will be circulating in Vietnam like dengue fever.
The country has detected Zika infections in several localities. Recently, the infections have been on the rise in southern Ho Chi Minh City with over 200 cases, said Phu.
In 2017, there will be more infected localities and cases, the official said.
However, Phu urged local people not to panic as most of the Zika infections in Vietnam have been in mild condition, and caused no casualties.
At the same time, the virus is allegedly linked to microcephaly in new borns, so it has impacts on pregnant women, said Phu on the department's website.
Although no travel limits were issued among localities, those who have arrived from Zika-hit areas should monitor their health in 14 days' time, Phu warned.
