Ebola situation becomes complicated; Ministry of Health holds emergency meeting to respond.

Although the WHO assesses the risk of Ebola in Vietnam as low, the health sector is still strengthening surveillance of people entering the country from affected areas.

Vietnam has not recorded any Ebola cases, but the Ministry of Health has requested increased control at border crossings and preparations for treatment if needed. Photo: Shutterstock .

Given the complex developments of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, on the morning of May 22, the Ministry of Health held a nationwide online meeting to implement measures to monitor and prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.

According to information from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam, the risk of Ebola spread is assessed as high in countries experiencing outbreaks and neighboring regions, but low globally, including Vietnam. Nevertheless, WHO advises countries not to be complacent and to proactively implement preventive measures.

The Ebola situation in Congo and Uganda

A WHO representative said the Ebola outbreak is currently developing in a worrying manner in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 5th, four healthcare workers in Ituri province died from Ebola Bundibugyo strain. By May 16th, the country had recorded 8 confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri province.

As of May 18th, the total number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo had reached 516, including 131 deaths in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

Meanwhile, Uganda confirmed two imported cases from the Democratic Republic of Congo. An elderly man was hospitalized in critical condition and died on May 14. Two days later, the country reported another case, also linked to travel from Congo.

According to Dr. Hoang Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Disease Prevention, Ebola is a particularly dangerous Group A infectious disease, capable of rapid spread with a mortality rate that can reach up to 90%.

The Ebola virus is transmitted from wild animals such as fruit bats, hedgehogs, and primates to humans, and then spreads from person to person through direct contact with blood, secretions, bodily fluids, or contaminated objects.

There are currently six strains of viruses belonging to the genus Orthoebolavirus, of which three commonly cause outbreaks: Ebola, Sudan, and Bundibugyo. The current outbreaks in Congo and Uganda have been identified as being caused by the Bundibugyo strain.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, Deputy Minister of Health, chaired the meeting. Photo: Ministry of Health .

"Currently, there are only vaccines and specific treatments for the Ebola strain; there are no vaccines or specific treatments for the Sudan and Bundibugyo strains," Dr. Duc said.

Vietnam increases surveillance of people entering the country from epidemic areas.

According to the Department of Disease Prevention and Control, Vietnam has not recorded any cases of Ebola to date. The risk of the disease entering the country is currently not high, but the possibility of cases appearing through people entering from affected areas cannot be ruled out.

Following the WHO's warning, the Ministry of Health instructed localities to strengthen surveillance of incoming travelers, especially those coming from areas experiencing outbreaks; and to prepare rapid response teams and response scenarios should cases appear.

Leading institutions such as the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City currently have the capacity to test for Ebola virus using Realtime PCR and gene sequencing techniques under biosafety level III conditions.

The Ministry of Health stated that specific diagnostic reagents are also being ordered according to WHO guidelines and are expected to arrive in Vietnam within the next 7-10 days.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Health continues to coordinate with the WHO and other international organizations to update the disease situation and strengthen training for localities on surveillance, sample collection, testing, and infection control in hospitals.

The Department of Disease Prevention advises people to be aware of common signs of Ebola such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rash; some cases may show signs of bleeding. The incubation period lasts from 2 to 21 days.

People returning from epidemic areas should proactively monitor their health and immediately notify medical facilities if they experience any suspicious symptoms.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong requested the Department of Disease Prevention and Control to coordinate with the WHO in Vietnam to review all epidemiological information, develop response scenarios, and provide guidance on prevention, treatment, and handling of Ebola-related cases in order to proactively respond if the disease enters the country.

The Deputy Minister also requested the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management to promptly issue a directive to hospitals to implement epidemic prevention and control plans and prepare facilities for patient admission and treatment.

At border crossings, the Ministry of Health has requested increased screening of passengers returning from high-risk areas. For cases currently in the incubation period, recommendations should be made so that local authorities can continue monitoring and surveillance, and be ready to activate rapid response teams when necessary.

In addition, the Department of Disease Prevention is tasked with drafting official documents for the Ministry's leadership to sign and send to the People's Committees of provinces and cities; and simultaneously advising the Government and the Prime Minister on directing the implementation of appropriate and effective epidemic prevention and control measures nationwide.

Source: https://znews.vn/ebola-dien-bien-phuc-tap-bo-y-te-hop-khan-ung-pho-post1653284.html