South China's Guangzhou city has tightened health checks on all inbound travellers at transport hubs. This is after the second confirmed zika virus patient in China came through the province.
Guangzhou is on high alert for zika.
"We set up four infrared devices to read body temperatures, They target different positions of the face to ensure no fever is missed," Wu Hui Ming, deputy director of Entry-exit Inspection of Guarantee Bureau Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, said.
The trade hub is a center of exchange between China and South America, where the zika virus is spreading. Taking extra precautions to keep the virus out, the airport set temperatures at which an alarm is triggered at a minimum. Suspected carriers will undergo a check-up, including blood sampling, at the airport.
"After sending up the blood samples, we will inform the emergency rescue center to transfer the patient into isolation and for treatment," Wu said.
Similar surveilance is set up at ports, and bus stations across the province.
But doctors said, the possibility for a wide spread is low.
"The symptoms are mild. Zika catches a lot of attention because once pregnant women are infected, the babies would be born with microcephaly," Zhang Fuchun, deputy director of Guangzhou 8th People's Hospital, said.
So far there is no vaccine.
"We still don't know whether it is transmitted through breast feeding, sexual activities or saliva," Zhang said.
The second Zika case was detected in Guangzhou one week ago... the patient's body temperature has returned to normal.
Experts said the symptoms may last up to 7 days, a period in which most Zika victims would recover.
Southern provinces have started campaigns to eliminating mosquitoes, before the weather gets warmer.
