Ministry of Health (MoH) and World Health Organisation (WHO) experts on August 14 supervised the examination of three university students entering Vietnam from Nigeria, one of the four African nations being affected by the Ebola virus epidemic. 

The three students have arrived in Vietnam separately since July 31 for a new academic year at the Hanoi-based FPT University.

They are in good health condition, said health officials.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long talking to Nigerian students, inquiring into their health and giving advice on how to prevent the Ebola virus infection (Photo: Vietnamnet)

The students were advised to avoid contact with other people or animals, especially any direct contact with any other people’s bodily fluids and tissues, including blood, vaginal secretions and saliva.

They were also instructed to closely watch their health condition and if any symptoms of the Ebola infection emerge, such as fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea or hemorrhage, they should report to healthcare centres immediately.

The students are to be strictly monitored by health officials for 21 days from the day they entered the country.

The Hanoi municipal Health Department has set up two hotlines: 0969.082.115 and 094.9396115 to receive Ebola-related information.

The government has put in place effective screening procedures at airports and border crossings to detect Ebola in travelers to the country as part of a concerted effort to avert an outbreak.

MoH Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the government is not leaving anything to chance and all persons entering the country from Ebola-hit nations, particularly Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are subjected to screening.