Medical stations in Ho Chi Minh City have been urged to increase inspections to promptly detect any patients who are suspected of having Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) or avian influenza H7N9, and swiftly contain them.

Director of the municipal Preventive Medicine Department Nguyen Tri Dung made the call at a meeting in the city on June 4.

The function heard that no cases of such diseases have been reported so far in Vietnam. However, there are high risks that these viruses may enter Vietnam as the country is expanding trade and tourism ties with foreign countries, including those where these diseases are developing unpredictably.

Passengers on flights from A/H1N1-hit countries, such as Cambodia, Egypt, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and those from China, which has recorded cases of both A/H1N1 and H7N9 viruses, and the Mers-CoV-hit Middle East nations must have their body temperature measured before entering Vietnam.

The city has seen a reduction in cases of prevalent diseases such as measles, chickenpox, foot-hand-mouth and dengue since May. However, preventive measures must be continuously taken to keep the diseases under control.

It will increase vaccinations for children aged 3-10 years old until July, while launching the Environmental Sanitation Month to mark the ASEAN Dengue Day (June 15).-VNA