In the government office, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung August 9 convened an urgent meeting with locality authorities and ministries on necessary precautions against the deadly Ebola epidemic.
The Ministry of Health reported the PM the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD), a viral hemorrhagic fever that has claimed more than 960 lives in West Africa so far this year, the World Health Organization's warnings, precautions taken by other coumtries in the world as well as the possibility of spread of the disease into Vietnam and preventative measures against the disease.
The Ministry said although the disease has not have spread into Vietnam, it is high risk that the disease will be able to enter the country through international tourists; accordingly, the ministry in coordination with other agencies to adopt eight preventive measures. Currently, medical workers are present at internationl airports and border gates for health declaration form and checking.
The Ministry is planning to open an Urgent Response Center on August 11, aiming to cooperate with The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in case that a case of Ebola virus disease in the country. All supervision plans , laboratories and temporary hospitals are available for receiving patients
The Ministry has asked hospitals including the National Tropical Disease in Hanoi, the Hue Central, the Da Nang General hospital, the General hospital in the central province of Khanh Hoa, and the Tropical Disease in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong delta City of Can Tho to be ready for Ebola virus disease case.
Necessary equipments and drugs are avaible, said the Ministry. 10,000 special uniform for medical workers were bought. Training courses have been provided to health staffs
The PM lauded the Ministry of Health for the preparedness for the dangerous disease. He also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to restrict people from travelling to Ebola-hit nations. All ministries were requested to publicze necessary information to people about the fatal disease in order to raise people's awareness and peopel know how to protect themselves.
