Beijing, Mar 1 (IANS): Chinese health authorities ordered cleaning of public areas to prevent the spread of viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, including Zika, nine cases of which have been detected in the country till now.

According to the Chair of National Commission on Health and Family Planning, Li Bin, the campaign will focus particularly on cleaning common public areas, including bus stations, ports, markets, residential areas, cities and border towns, Efe news reported on Tuesday.

Li also advised Chinese citizens to keep their homes and work places clean in order to avoid the proliferation of these diseases.

"Monitoring and analysis of infectious diseases should be increased and we must be especially vigilant in areas near borders," Li said.

The campaign began on Monday, the same day the ninth case of Zika in China was reported after a 23-year-old man was diagnosed with the disease after returning from Venezuela on February 19.

Zika virus has been detected in about 30 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and has also spread to other regions of the world mainly through travellers.