Chinese scientists have isolated two Zika virus strains, which will assist research into a possible vaccination and the transmission pattern of the virus.
The two strains were isolated from blood and urine samples from two patients. The urine test was the first successful isolation from a sample such as that, according to the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and Guangzhou No. 8 People's Hospital.
With five confirmed imported Zika virus cases and the weather beginning to warm up across the country, China is on high alert.
The isolation can help scientists study the transmission pattern of the virus while provide a foundation for the invention of reagent and vaccine.
Chinese scientists announced Monday they had decoded the gene sequence of the first imported Zika virus.
