Vietnam takes precautions against killer Ebola epidemic

Medical staff working with Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) prepare to bring food to patients kept in an isolation area at the MSF Ebola treatment center in Kailahun, Sierra Leone, July 20, 2014. Reuters

Vietnamese competent agencies are taking necessary measures to prevent a possible penetration of the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD), a viral hemorrhagic fever that has claimed more than 960 lives in West Africa so far this year.

In a directive to all airport authorities nationwide on Friday, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) urged them to comply with regulations on preventing airborne disease transmission and coordinate closely with local international health quarantine centers in tightening control over visitors coming from four West African countries: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

The move was made after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on the same day that the killer Ebola epidemic ravaging parts of West Africa an international health emergency, which has affected 1,779 people in West Africa and killed 961 of them as of August 6.   

CAAV requested that anyone suspected of contracting the virus be isolated and treated properly to prevent the spread of the extremely fatal virus, which can kill up to 90 percent of infected people.

Also yesterday, deputy chairwoman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc asked the local International Health Quarantine Center to tighten control over passengers coming from the Ebola-hit countries, especially Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Togo, Nigeria and Ghana.

Ngoc asked health facilities to prepare specific plans to protect people from infecting the killer virus, which is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy director of the municipal health department said the city is at a risk of Ebola infection as the southern city is a popular destination for a large number of international tourists, including those from Africa. 

The local government and health authorities are following up updated developments of the Ebola epidemic and taking preventive measures, Dr. Hung said.

From August 15 onward, the doctor said, all air passengers coming to Vietnam from the Ebola-hit region in West Africa will be required to fill out health declaration forms as part of their entry procedures at airports.

As a severe acute viral illness, the EVD is often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, according to the WHO.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Thursday called on all local health authorities to take precautions against the EVD.

The agency also announced three scenarios to cope with the EVD in case the deadly virus penetrates into Vietnam in the future.

Accordingly, scenario 1 is the situation in which all concerned agencies will use necessary means to detect early signs of the Ebola virus, if any, so that the affected people can be treated in time, minimizing the spread of the fatal virus.

Scenario 2 takes place when the virus begins to penetrate into Vietnam and health agencies will promptly treat patients to avoid mortality, and take measures to prevent the virus from spreading.    

In scenario 3, the EVD has spread in Vietnam and competent agencies will mobilize all possible resources to curb the spread of the virus, and continue treating patients effectively to minimize deaths. 

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