Health sector on duty around the clock for MERS-CoV prevention

The Ministry of Health (MoH) on June 17^th stressed a high risk of reporting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome corona virus (MERS-CoV) in Vietnam. As a result, it asked Directors of centrally-governed provincial and city Health Departments to be on duty around the clock to mitigate possible cases and fatalities.

Checking passengers' temperature at Tan Son Nhat international airport (Photo: TTO)

Under the direction from MoH, the provincial and city Health Department Directors are allowed to decide medical foundations joining the effort.

The MoH also suggested provincial and city People’s Committees to direct Departments of Labour, War-Invalids and Social Affairs to work with export processing and industrial zones authorities and construction sites to disseminate information about MERS – CoV among labourers coming from the Republic of Korea and Middle East nations.

Provinces and cities were urged to ask those who returned from infected areas to declare medical status at border gates and inspect their health within 14 days. If symptoms such as coughing, fever and respiratory problems are reported, they must inform them to medical foundations or ring hotlines.

Local authorities will be responsible for checking all families that have members living, studying and working in the Republic of Korea as well as Korean citizens for giving consultancy on preventive measures./.

( Compiled by VNF )