As Zika spreads in Vietnam, local authorities are imposing stricter regulations and punishments in the name of public health.
Seventy-four households in Saigon were recently fined for failing to carry out preventive measures against mosquitoes, reports Tuoi Tre. According to current guidelines, families living in areas with large mosquito populations – neighborhoods near canals, for instance, or areas with dense vegetation – are required to keep their homes clear of mosquito breeding grounds, such as uncovered standing water, in an effort to discourage the growth of mosquito larvae.
Tran Minh Tu, chairman of the Hiep Binh Chanh Ward People’s Committee in Thu Duc District, told the news outlet that six families within the ward were fined from VND700,000 to VND1.5 million each for discarding substances and objects that may worsen the spread of contagious diseases.
Before handing out the punishment, local officials had reportedly inspected residents' homes and requested they take necessary measures to eradicate mosquito larvae in the vicinity.
Director Nguyen Tri Dung of the Preventive Medicine Center of Ho Chi Minh City shared that the penalty has been in effect since 2013, however the enforcement of this decree is still limited: only 55 and 74 cases were recorded in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
[Photo via VnExpress]
