Nghe An is ready to respond to the Corona epidemic

High risk of disease outbreak

On the afternoon of January 31, the Provincial People's Committee held an urgent meeting on strengthening the prevention and control of acute respiratory infections caused by the new strain of Corona virus. Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting.

Reporting at the meeting, Nghe An Department of Health said that the first case of acute pneumonia caused by the new strain of Corona virus started on December 12, 2019. As of noon on January 31, China had recorded 9,699 cases in 30 provinces and cities and 213 deaths. In Vietnam, 5 cases of acute pneumonia caused by the new strain of Corona virus were recorded, including 3 Vietnamese patients and 2 Chinese patients, including patient Li Ding (66 years old, father) and his wife from Wuhan came to Vietnam to visit their son Li Zichao (28 years old) who is living and working in Long An. There are 97 suspected cases of nCoV virus infection.

Working session scene. Photo: Tien Hung

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - Director of Nghe An General Hospital, the hospital is quarantining a 42-year-old woman with some symptoms suspected of being infected with this epidemic. The patient lives in Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district, and just returned from China to celebrate Tet on January 17. On January 28, her family took her to the hospital after symptoms such as fever, cough... Currently, the hospital has taken samples to send to the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for testing.

Provincial leaders visited a 42-year-old female patient who is being quarantined at Nghe An General Hospital on the afternoon of January 31. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Based on the situation and epidemiological characteristics of the disease, the risk assessment results of the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Response Center on January 7 showed that acute pneumonia can completely penetrate Vietnam in general and Nghe An province in particular. It is also possible for an epidemic to break out in the community if preventive measures are not proactively implemented.

“Nghe An is at risk of an epidemic due to many favorable conditions. However, Nghe An is also ready to prevent and fight the epidemic. Currently, it can be said that the entire political system has taken action,” Comrade Bui Dinh Long emphasized.

Nghe An is a province with a large area and high population density, with a developed system of sea, road and air transport; and Nam Can international border gate. Currently, the cold and humid winter and spring climate is very favorable for pathogens to arise and develop. Meanwhile, current disease prevention measures mainly rely on environmental sanitation, personal hygiene, preventing the entry of disease cases, and preventing transmission in the community.

Director of the Department of Health speaks at the meeting. Photo: Tien Hung

At the meeting, the provincial police chief said that there were 340 foreigners in Nghe An, including more than 100 Chinese. The provincial police proposed that the provincial People's Committee direct sectors and localities to require businesses with Chinese and Taiwanese workers to closely monitor their workers. At the same time, people returning from China were required to declare and undergo health checks.

Ready to respond to the epidemic

Currently, Nghe An province is developing a plan to prevent and control the epidemic with specific plans. According to the plan, based on the Ministry of Health's classification of the epidemic level nationwide and the actual situation in the province as well as the capacity to receive and treat patients of hospitals in the province, the Steering Committee of the Department of Health has classified the epidemic situation in the province into 4 scenarios. Scenario 1: No cases of the disease have been recorded in Nghe An. Scenario 2: Cases of the disease have entered Nghe An. Scenario 3: The epidemic has spread to more than 5 cases in the province or there are 02 districts, towns, and cities in the province with the epidemic spreading. Scenario 4: The epidemic has spread widely in the community with more than 30 cases of the disease (exceeding the capacity of the Provincial General Hospital) or there are more than 5 districts, towns, and cities in the province with the epidemic spreading.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long concluded at the meeting. Photo: Tien Hung

According to the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nghe An is still in situation 1. Concluding the meeting, Mr. Bui Dinh Long requested the Department of Health to immediately complete the epidemic prevention and control plan. Strengthen monitoring, early detection of cases, and timely quarantine. Develop propaganda content so that people know how to prevent the disease. Coordinate with relevant sectors to grasp the list of businesses with Chinese people for close monitoring. Press agencies, provide more information on disease prevention methods, and on Nghe An province's readiness to respond to disease prevention.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long also assigned tasks to a number of departments and branches. In particular, the Provincial Police coordinated with the health sector to strictly monitor and strictly control the epidemic right at the border gate. Ensure security for mandatory medical isolation of infected and suspected cases; share information about incoming passengers with the health sector. The Provincial Military Command and the Provincial Border Guard Command coordinated with the health sector to strictly monitor and strictly control the epidemic at the border gate, share information about incoming passengers with the health sector. Direct the prohibition of people passing through trails and openings along the border and strictly control visitors at other border gates. Prepare to deploy field hospitals in case the epidemic spreads. Direct the implementation of epidemic prevention and control activities in military units./.