Vietnam at low risk of Ebola: experts

A medical staff member of the Lao Bao International Border Gate monitors and supervises arriving people.-VNA/VNS Photo Duong Ngoc

This is because the epidemic has mainly occurred in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo and there are limited exchanges and trade between Vietnam and Congo. However, there is a possibility of people from the affected region entering the country, the delegates said.

This was said at a meeting held among concerned agencies on Thursday to assess the risk of Ebola entering Vietnam and propose suitable preventive measures.

The health ministry is closely coordinating with the World Health Organization to enhance supervision at the border and in hospitals to detect suspected cases of Ebola,the e-newspaper Vietnamplus reported.

They also suggested that concerned agencies should share any information related to the epidemic, the immigration status of passengers from the affected region as well as suggest suitable preventive measures.

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute now have the technological know-how to conduct tests in Vietnam to detect the Ebola virus.

The virus has been confirmed in the Central African nation of Congo since April 2018, with confirmed and suspected cases reaching 54, including 25 deaths, according to WHO on May 29. The world health body, experienced in controlling the Ebola epidemic in 2014, has been working closely with the Government of Congo to implement comprehensive and coordinated actions to control the disease at an early stage and limit the spread of the virus.

In 2014, Vietnam’s health ministry organised many activities to prepare for the disease, such as putting in place a National Ebola Action Plan. There were specialised training activities for Ebola surveillance, testing, diagnosis and treatment, along with infection control and outbreak management guidelines.