VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Health on August 7 issued an action plan for the prevention of the spread of the Ebola virus in Vietnam. As the disease rages across West Africa it is likely to enter and break out in Vietnam unless pro-active preventive measures are taken.

Health workers are carefully equipped to avoid Ebola infection

The ministry said as of August 1 no cases of the Ebola virus have been recorded in Vietnam. The ministry went on to warn that the deadly virus may enter the country through tourists, guest workers or Vietnamese arriving in the country via West African countries.

To be well prepared for any potential Ebola outbreak, the ministry has ordered its disease prevention steering committee, provincial departments of health, preventive medicine centres, hospitals and relevant agencies to ready their infrastructure, equipment and personnel.

The ministry has also been working with customs agencies to closely monitor people, animals, vehicles and goods travelling through border gates.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ebola was introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals.

It then spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and through indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.

The disease is a severe acute viral illness often characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headaches and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases both internal and external bleeding.

On August 6, WHO reported that the Ebola death toll rose to 932, mostly in West African nations.

Nhan Dan