The ministry has continued working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international organisations to stay up to date on the epidemic situation, while proactively applying appropriate disease prevention measures.
Against the ongoing outbreak of viral pneumonia from an unknown origin reported in Hubei province, China, the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) hosted an emergency meeting on January 7 to evaluate the current situation regarding the disease as well as to review responsive actions and propose appropriate disease prevention measures in the near future.
So far 59 cases of viral pneumonia cases of unknown causes had been reported in Wuhan, Hubei, including seven severe cases, two people have fully recovered while other cases have been stabilised and no death have been recorded to date.
The survey results show that there is no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission and there have been no reported cases of infected health workers. WHO informed that test results have excluded pathogens from influenza, Adenovirus, avian influenza, SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
As exchanges are increasing between Vietnam and China in the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet), health experts at the meeting identified that the risk of disease transmission into Vietnam is entirely possible without taking drastic measures to prevent and control the mysterious pneumonia.
They suggested local health departments work closely with WHO and international organisations to closely monitor and regularly update any information regarding the situation, while promoting communications in the community and proactively preventing winter-spring diseases according to the recommendations from the MOH.
Tightened disease monitoring was also requested at border gates, as well as for unexplained severe pneumonia in medical centres and the community, especially in cases with a history of traveling from the epidemic area for prompt detection and treatment to prevent the disease from spreading.
The cities and provinces are also asked to prepare all necessary facilities, instruments, chemicals and medicines and human resources to deploy preventative measures in a timely manner in any possible scenario.
