A warning has been issued about increasing Zika virus infections in Bangkok, by Professor Dr. Yong Poovorawan, chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

In his Facebook post today, Dr. Yong says that the virus, which is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, has recently been spreading in Bangkok. The symptoms are similar to those of dengue fever, but less severe.

He added, however, that some people can develop severe complications, which may lead to cessation of breathing.

Zika virus infection symptoms include a rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache that last 2-7 days. Infection during pregnancy can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations, as well as premature birth and miscarriage. It is also associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis in adults and children.

To prevent mosquito bites, Dr. Yong advised people, especially children, to wear light-coloured clothing, to apply mosquito repellent and to get rid of the breeding grounds for mosquitoes, predominantly places containing stagnant water.