Ebola epidemic is growing tremendously

The Ebola epidemic has killed nearly 900 people in 4 West African countries and is growing day by day. According to the Ministry of Health, this disease 'has not excluded airborne transmission' into Vietnam.

This is the affirmation of Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) during an online briefing on epidemic disease on August 6.

The Director of the Preventive Medicine Department said that although Vietnam has not recorded any cases of Ebola virus disease, the disease has appeared in 11 countries and regions in the world with a very fast spread so it should be vigilant.

The world has recorded more than 1,600 cases of Ebola, including 887 deaths in 4 West African countries. In particular, up to 100 health workers infect Ebola virus.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuc, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), said most cases of Ebola infection were caused by direct contact with infected skin, mucous, and body fluids. An animal infected with Ebola has been found dead in the forest and the disease is likely to spread from person to person.

Ebola, the virus that is thought to cause death rates of up to 90%, is raging in West Africa and threatens to spread to many parts of the world.(Photo: RT)

In order to prevent this epidemic, WHO recommends the authorities to closely coordinate the work of interdisciplinary supervision of visitors through border gates to Vietnam from the epidemic, timely detection and isolation. effective, avoid spreading. Develop action plans, actively respond promptly when epidemics are available.

Dr. Tran Thanh Duong (Director of the Institute of Malaria, Parasitology, and Insects) said that the risk of Ebola outbreak in Vietnam is very low because the disease is not transmitted through the respiratory system, but not so. people and subjective authorities.

Still according to Dr. Phu, the Ministry of Health is currently researching WHO information and the US Centers for Disease Control to make appropriate recommendations. WHO believes that the virus does not exclude any country, it is important to control the spread from the first case if any.

If before the WHO assesses the risk of traveling by tourism route is low, this time has turned to a warning "not to exclude airway transmission".

Earlier, on August 4, the Ministry of Health sent an official dispatch to the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities on Ebola epidemic with an acute infectious disease virus capable of spreading quickly and high mortality rates (to 90% of cases) in some West African countries.

In order to prevent the epidemic from spreading into Vietnam, the Ministry proposed the provincial health departments to coordinate with the authorities at the border gate to closely monitor immigrants, especially from countries where epidemics are present; well implement supervision in the community and medical facilities. When detecting cases of suspected Ebola virus disease and having a history of going back from the epidemic area within 21 days, the concerned agency should immediately take isolation measures and take samples for testing.

On July 29, Nigeria reported its first case of virus infection. The patient traveled by air to Lagos (Nigeria) from Togo and Ghana. The countries of Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo are working closely with WHO to identify close contacts as well as prepare response plans.