Still No Sign of Zika Virus in Cambodia So Far

PHNOM PENH— Cambodian Ministry of Health spokesman Ly Sovann reiterated Monday that the country has not detected a new case of Zika virus in the last six years.

"Since 2010 until now, Cambodia has not found a new Zika case," he told reporters. "The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation of Zika virus."

According to the spokesman, Cambodia found seven Zika cases between 2007 and 2010, but the patients had recovered.

Ly Sovann made the remarks after the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a travel notice on Thursday advising pregnant women to consider postponing nonessential travel to 11 Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, because of possible complications from the Zika virus.

The Aedes mosquito-borne and sexually transmitted 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 a Ministry of Health statement. Most of the patients recover within two to seven 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 babies' heads are abnormally small, the statement said.

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat the disease till now.