No cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) andavian influenza H7N9 have been reported so far in Vietnam, a healthofficial has said.
Deputy Head of the Preventive MedicineDepartment under the Health Ministry Tran Dac Phu made the affirmationat a meeting in Hanoi on July 15.
He noted however,that there are risks that MERS-CoV may enter Vietnam in the contextof expanding trade and tourism ties with foreign countries, includingthose where the new deadly coronavirus strain is raging.
There currently no vaccine or treatment for MERS-CoV, the healthofficial said, adding that some infected cases show no symptoms,hindering the control of the disease.
Globally, from April2012 through July 15 this year, a total of 82 laboratory-confirmed casesof MERS-CoV infection have been reported in nine countries, mostly inSaudi Arabia, including 45 deaths, according to the World HealthOrganisation.
Meanwhile, a total of 132 H7N9 avian flu caseswere reported in China, including 43 that have ended in death, byJuly 10, according to Xinhua news agency.
Vietnamfaces high risks of a H7N9 outbreak as the country shares a long borderwith China, which is vulnerable to poultry smuggling andH7N9-infected people crossing the border into Vietnam.
Given that context, the Vietnamese Health Ministry has instructedrelevant branches to increase inspection over the viruses, especially atborder gates while taking samples from suspected cases for testing.
The ministry has also issued manuals guiding thesupervision and prevention of MERS-CoV, which is in the same family ofviruses as SARS as well as the common cold.
TheWHO has suggested people cover their mouth when cough or sneeze (tissue,sleeve or elbow, not hands) and wash hands frequently to preventinfection.-VNA
Deputy Head of the Preventive MedicineDepartment under the Health Ministry Tran Dac Phu made the affirmationat a meeting in Hanoi on July 15.
He noted however,that there are risks that MERS-CoV may enter Vietnam in the contextof expanding trade and tourism ties with foreign countries, includingthose where the new deadly coronavirus strain is raging.
There currently no vaccine or treatment for MERS-CoV, the healthofficial said, adding that some infected cases show no symptoms,hindering the control of the disease.
Globally, from April2012 through July 15 this year, a total of 82 laboratory-confirmed casesof MERS-CoV infection have been reported in nine countries, mostly inSaudi Arabia, including 45 deaths, according to the World HealthOrganisation.
Meanwhile, a total of 132 H7N9 avian flu caseswere reported in China, including 43 that have ended in death, byJuly 10, according to Xinhua news agency.
Vietnamfaces high risks of a H7N9 outbreak as the country shares a long borderwith China, which is vulnerable to poultry smuggling andH7N9-infected people crossing the border into Vietnam.
Given that context, the Vietnamese Health Ministry has instructedrelevant branches to increase inspection over the viruses, especially atborder gates while taking samples from suspected cases for testing.
The ministry has also issued manuals guiding thesupervision and prevention of MERS-CoV, which is in the same family ofviruses as SARS as well as the common cold.
TheWHO has suggested people cover their mouth when cough or sneeze (tissue,sleeve or elbow, not hands) and wash hands frequently to preventinfection.-VNA
