Vietnam scrambles to prevent possible Ebola outbreak Vietnam is scrambling to establish effective screening methods to cope with the Ebola epidemic by implementing standard laboratory diagnostic tests to detect the Ebola virus and ensure laboratory biosafety.  The rapid detection of the Ebola virus requires a Primer testing machine and the Ministry of Health (MoH) is moving quickly to get one set up and devise a standard protocol for lab tests and procedures crucially important for early diagnosis. The MoH has has also initiated steps to upgrade laboratories at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and HCM City’s Pasteur Institute.   Medical declaration is compulsory for all visitors entering Vietnam via border gates (Photo:VNA) To effectively deal with the epidemic, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, head of the Preventive Health Department said the MoH has asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide bio-facilities and techniques to diagnose Ebola virus and other organisations to support the supply of modern equipment for testing the deadly strain. On August 11, the MoH sent a delegation to inspect the implementation of requirements to prevent the Ebola virus from entering the country at Noi Bai international airport. MoH said it is functioning as a liaison to co-ordinate with international and US organisations to support localities in the most urgent cases. The WHO has reported the number of confirmed Ebola infections has reached 1,711 with 932 deaths in the four West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Ebola spreads in the human population through close contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. The MoH has upgraded the warning level for the epidemics and has initiated procedures requiring travellers from West African nations to sign a medical declaration at border gates before entering Vietnam as from August 15. Tour suspension The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has asked travel agents to consider suspending tours to Ebola outbreak-hit nations (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria) and provide visitors with up-to-date information about the epidemic and preventive measures. Tour operators are required to work closely with local health quarantine agency to offer medical check-ups to international visitors from affected markets at border gates. The VNAT has proposed that cities and provinces, especially key tourist destinations, collaborate with relevant agencies to come up with prompt measures against the disease. Localities are required to keep abreast of the developments of the Ebola epidemic and preventive measures to ensure tourists’ health and nip in a bud any possible outbreak of the deadly disease.  VOV