Zika warning: Thailand named region’s “red alert” country

And provinces where Zika virus patients are being treated were instructed to immediately set up emergency operations centres to contain any outbreaks.

Amnuay said his office had asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to re-check information and clarify the disease’s progress with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The ECDC website cited Thailand as a “red alert” country with increasing or widespread Zika virus transmission to the point of having the region’s highest number of patients within the last three months. 

The rise of Zika infections actually reflected Thailand’s awareness, disease-monitoring measures, diagnosis and information disclosures that were up to international standards, Amnuay said.

Affirming that Thailand was continuously implementing intensive measures against the Zika virus, he said the virus was declared a contagious disease under the Communicable Disease Act 2015. This meant any cases must be reported to heath authorities.