Actively prevent and fight Ebola epidemic

(Baonghean) - The Ebola epidemic is raging in four West African countries and is at risk of spreading to other countries, including Vietnam. To respond to and prevent the epidemic, Nghe An is proactively implementing many positive measures. In particular, special attention is paid to propaganda work, raising awareness and monitoring, detecting the disease... Nghe An Newspaper reporter had an interview with Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hong, Deputy Director of the Department of Health about this issue.

PV:Doctor, please tell us about the risk of Ebola spreading to Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular?

Doctor Nguyen Xuan Hong:Ebola is an infectious disease caused by the extremely dangerous Ebola virus. The disease was first discovered in Sudan and the Republic of Congo in 1976, killing 800 people. Since then, the disease has appeared sporadically in many places. And since the end of 2013, Ebola has broken out again in 4 West African countries, including Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. As of August 20, nearly 2,000 people have contracted Ebola, of which 1,169 have died. The mortality rate of people infected with Ebola is currently 70% and can be up to over 90%.

Checking passengers' body temperature at Vinh Airport. Photo: Ha Dan

Ebola is transmitted by healthy people coming into direct contact with blood and body secretions (feces, urine, saliva, semen or mucus) of infected people, or healthy people coming into contact with animals carrying the Ebola virus such as fruit bats, apes, monkeys, chimpanzees, pigs, porcupines, antelopes, etc.

Vietnam has not detected any cases of Ebola, however, the risk of the disease spreading is entirely possible. Ebola can "enter" Vietnam, Nghe An through tourists, workers, and students returning from countries with epidemic areas by air, road, and sea.

PV:Faced with the risk of epidemics, what response and prevention measures has Nghe An implemented?

Doctor Nguyen Xuan Hong:Faced with the risk of Ebola, Nghe An province recently held a conference to evaluate the work of disease prevention and control in the first 7 months of 2014, and at the same time deploy the work of Ebola prevention and control, chaired by Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Thi Le Thanh, with the participation of all relevant departments, branches and sectors. At the conference, Nghe An set out 4 hypothetical situations according to levels (No cases recorded in Vietnam; Cases entering Vietnam, but no cases entering Nghe An; The epidemic spreads widely in Vietnam and there are cases entering Nghe An province; The epidemic breaks out in the community), with specific measures attached. The departments, branches and sectors also proposed that the Provincial People's Committee purchase an additional body temperature measuring machine to be placed at Nam Can International Border Gate to detect infected cases early.

The People's Committee of Nghe An province has directed and assigned specific responsibilities for disease prevention and control to all departments, branches, sectors and localities in the province in the spirit of "4 on-site". Departments, branches, sectors and localities have developed their own Ebola prevention and control plans, while strengthening coordination with the health sector, especially in providing, sharing information and monitoring the disease.

Currently, Nghe An is actively implementing Ebola prevention and control by promoting communication activities so that people understand the Ebola epidemic such as its harmful effects and transmission mechanisms in order to have appropriate responses. The Health sector coordinates with relevant agencies to do a good job of disease prevention and control at Vinh Airport, Cua Lo Port, Nam Can Border Gate and on the border. Vinh Airport has been equipped with body temperature measuring machines. The sector directs medical facilities in the area to promote the spirit of disease surveillance in the community, especially for those returning from African countries to work, because detecting the first case is very important for effective disease prevention and control. In the near future, the Health sector will organize training courses on Ebola virus disease surveillance for districts, cities and towns.

PV:What do doctors recommend so that people do not panic and proactively respond to the Ebola epidemic?

Doctor Nguyen Xuan Hong:Ebola is not only a concern of one country but also a concern of the whole community. However, we need to stay calm and not panic because Ebola can only be transmitted when people come into direct contact with the secretions of infected people or animals carrying the virus. The disease is not as contagious as respiratory diseases. Currently, in the world, only the 4 West African countries mentioned above have people infected with the disease; in other countries, only people with suspected symptoms have been detected and no cases have been detected through surveillance. In Vietnam, the work of monitoring, preventing and fighting Ebola is being carried out seriously and this is highly appreciated by the international community.

To proactively prevent and combat Ebola, each person needs to practice good personal hygiene; limit contact with suspected animals; maintain environmental hygiene; when health conditions show signs of deterioration, they should go to medical facilities for examination, because Ebola itself does not have specific symptoms... For those who need to work, travel, or study in high-risk countries, they should consider, be careful, and limit as much as possible.

PV:Thank you doctor!

Thanh Son(Perform)