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Zika cases on rise in Tonga

Xinhua, February 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

Tonga has recorded seven Zika cases that were confirmed by laboratory blood tests, local media reported Wednesday.

Of the confirmed cases, two were confirmed in Tonga and five were reported from New Zealand in people who had travelled to Tonga and became sick when they returned to New Zealand, where they tested positive for Zika, said Dr. Reynold Ofanoa, Tonga's chief medical officer for public health.

To date, there are 542 suspected Zika cases in the Pacific kingdom, according to Ofanoa.

A national clean up campaign in collaboration with Tonga Red Cross, military personnel and others has started to eliminate the breeding sites for the mosquitoes that spread the virus.

Meanwhile, health authorities are starting to run community awareness programs on television and radio, and developing pamphlets and posters. Enditem