Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te has recommended that the central government set up a Zika prevention center in southern Taiwan.
Lai was speaking at the Cabinet on Thursday. He said that the Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus, like the dengue virus responsible for last year’s dengue fever outbreak in southern Taiwan.
In response, Premier Chang San-cheng asked the health ministry to take stock of its disease-prevention resources in southern Taiwan. Chang said the Cabinet will listen to the suggestions of the Tainan City Government and evaluate the needs of Taiwan’s southern counties.
On Monday, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus outbreak an international public health emergency due to its rapid spread in 26 Latin American countries.
In Brazil, where the current outbreak originated, the virus has led to microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in infants.
The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.