With regard to news reports on the spread of zika virus in Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to give additional information as follow:

1. Thailand’s public health authority has detected only a small number of zika virus cases. They are concentrated in certain areas and have not become widespread across the country. As of now, there is no report of death or children born with unusually small heads (microcephaly) attributed to zika virus in Thailand.

2. In 2016 Thailand has successfully developed capacity to validate the virus in domestic laboratories. Subsequently, a number of tests this year is hundredfold more than that of last year. This partly explains a significant increase of confirmed cases this year.

3. The Ministry of Public Health has adopted continued and systematic measures to control, monitor and prevent transmission of the disease. As a result, the spread of zika virus in several areas has been quickly ended.

4. The government attaches high priority to monitor and prevent the spread of zika virus. All relevant agencies, both at the national and provincial levels, have been instructed to work closely together in a well-coordinated manner. They will also join hands with the local communities under Public-Private-People Partnership or Pracharat model to deal with this challenge.

5. Further information can be obtained from the Department of Disease Control’s website (http://www.ddc.moph.go.th) and call center (1422).