How to control the Rift Valley fever?

On January 1, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health sent a document to subordinate units requesting to closely supervise entry visitors, especially visitors from Africa right at the border, to prevent invasive RVF virus. import into VN. Dr. Phan Van Nghiem - Head of the Department of Health, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health - added:

- Through the World Health Organization's recommendation, Rift valley fever (RVF) Rift virus is a dangerous disease originating from Africa, with a very high death rate. Currently in Kenya, Africa has 220 people with this disease, of which 82 died.

* How will the monitoring be done, sir?

- Monitoring is carried out at airports and ports in Ho Chi Minh City and ships in buoy no. 0 in Vung Tau. Specifically, the Department of Health assigned the International Medical Quarantine Center to conduct body temperature measurements from the above-mentioned epidemic areas at Tan Son Nhat airport gate.

If detecting that visitors have signs of suspicion, they must immediately transfer to TP Hospital for support. At the same time, overseeing foreign visitors arriving from the area where there are outbreaks in the above ports. In addition, the health sector also coordinates with aviation, police, customs and medical forces to promptly resolve suspicious cases.

* If the guest is in the incubation period, no fever, how to detect?

- We have a plan to coordinate with the Department of Tourism City and the district health center, so that the tourism industry immediately informs the health sector when visitors show signs of disease to promptly diagnose, treat . We also have regular and irregular reporting regimes (in case of emergency) when there are suspected cases, we must report quickly and take effective measures to prevent and control epidemics .

* How dangerous is this disease, sir?

- This is a dangerous infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans. The intermediate host transmits diseases to humans is many types of mosquitoes. RVF virus causes disease in animals such as buffaloes, cows, sheep, goats . and can exist naturally in mosquito eggs for a long time, dry conditions can take several years. When favorable, the eggs hatch and develop the virus spread to animals and humans.

People may be infected with RVF when drinking fresh milk, eating undercooked meat, direct contact with infected animals. When infected with RVF for 2-6 days, patients (patients) show symptoms of influenza: fever, headache, muscle, and people. There may be signs of encephalitis: stiff neck, photophobia, vomiting (occurring after 1-3 weeks with flu-like symptoms). In severe cases, patients may have hemorrhage, encephalitis, decreased vision, even vomiting and blood loss, subcutaneous hemorrhage, bleeding of the teeth. When the patient has hemorrhage, the death rate can be up to 50%.

* What disease cases have been discovered in Ho Chi Minh City so far?

- In Vietnam as well as in Ho Chi Minh City until now, there have been no cases of this disease or suspected of being infected, because the number of tourists from this region is very small.

However, we also warn that all current viruses do not have specific drugs for treatment, but when detected early, there are effective interventions. When detecting an early case, it will help localize and stamp out the epidemic sooner and safely for the higher community. When detecting suspected cases, people can call the hotline number of Health Department Ho Chi Minh City: 9309981, 9330807 (during office hours) and 9309431 (overtime).

LE THANH HA performed