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Cambodia retracts joint statement on 1st Zika case in 6 years

Xinhua, November 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Cambodia's Ministry of Health late Friday retracted a joint statement confirming the first case of the Zika virus just hours after its release, saying a double check showed a "negative result."

The retraction was made after the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization earlier in the day announced that a 44-year-old man from southeastern Kampong Cham province, who suspiciously had dengue fever, was tested positive for Zika virus by the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on Nov. 11.

"The new confirmation from Institut Pasteur du Cambodge is negative for this case after (being) double-checked by using sequencing method," Or Vandine, director-general of the Ministry of Health, said in an e-mail to the media.

"Negative result came out at 7 p.m. today (Nov. 18)," she said.

The Aedes mosquito-borne and sexually transmitted Zika virus, which can cause severe birth defects, has spread to some Southeast Asian countries in recent months.

Symptoms of Zika include fever, headache, rash, red eyes, and joint pain, according to the joint statement. Most of the patients recover within 2 to 7 days, as fatal rate is very low.

However, if the virus is transmitted to pregnant women, it can lead to the death of babies in the wombs, or result in babies' having abnormally small head, it said.

Cambodia found seven Zika cases between 2007 and 2010, and all the patients had recovered. Enditem