(VOVworld)- No mosquito-borne Zika virus case has been reported within Vietnam so far this year, as samples collected are confirmed by labs as negative for the virus.

As many as 784 samples have been taken from 32 provinces and cities nationwide for testing and all have given negative results, said Tran Dac Phu, Head of the Preventive Medicine Department of the Ministry of Public Health, on March 30. Though no infection has been recorded, preventive measures against the worrisome virus should be taken in a proactive manner, the Health Ministry said.

Deploying insecticide-sprayers and rooting out mosquito breeding places in homes are among the measures. Those who return from Zika-hit areas are advised to monitor their health for the first 12 days and use condoms in sexual relationships to prevent transmitting the virus. Experts said 61 countries and territories have reported cases of the Zika virus, a number which is expected to grow.