A Chinese passenger is constructed how to fill in a health quarantine declaration at the Lao Cai international border gate before entering Vietnam. (Photo: TTO)

Nong Van Hung, Vice Director of the Lao Cai provincial Health Department, said that the health sector is actively carrying out preventive measures at border gates and localities, with a focus on providing equipment and setting up quick response teams, isolating areas in case of suspected patients to prevent a possible spread of the disease.

There are over 5,000 passengers going through the Lao Cai international border gate each day. Authorised agencies have installed 2 temperature machines for those who use the border crossing.

According to Mr. Hung, the health sector has prepared for testing MERS-CoV medical samples, receiving and treating possible patients.

In the southern province of Tay Ninh, Tran Phuoc Doan, Director of the provincial international medical quarantine centre, said that at the two international border gates of Moc Bai and Xa Mat, the centre has worked with border forces to check temperature and require health declaration from passengers coming from MERS-CoV-infected areas.

As there is a large number of foreign tourists going through the two border gates (1,000-2,000 per day), the province has put into use 4 temperature machines working around the clock to check passengers’ body temperature.

If any suspects of MERS-CoV disease are found, they will be isolated at the gates while their medical samples will be sent to Pasteur Hospital in Ho Chi Minh city for testing before being taken to the isolated area in the Ben Cau district medical centre to receive initial medical support.

Meanwhile, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, the number of quarantine staff has been doubled at the Cam Ranh international airport. In addition, an increase in the number of quarantine staff has also been reported at 4 seaports of Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Hyundai factory and Dam Mon.

The medical staff and equipment ensure effective control over the disease from people coming from 11 MERS-CoV-infected countries that have been identified by the Ministry of Health, according to doctor Nguyen Hoa Hoi, Director of the provincial international medical quarantine centre.

In the northern province of Lang Son, medical agencies have worked with the border and customs forces to inspect any cases coming from MERS-CoV-infected regions. At the Huu Nghi international border gate and Dong Dang international railway border gate, medical staff is on duty around the clock to check passengers’ temperature and promptly detect any cases in fever or respiratory problems.

The Nam Can border gate and Cua Lo seaport in the central province of Nghe An have also been equipped with temperature machines. According to Hoang Van Hao, Deputy Director of the provincial Health Department, the department has carried out quarantine staff at these areas while medical staff has been trained how to prevent and treat any possible patients.

In Hai Phong city, a temperature machine is located for arrivals at Cat Bi airport. So far there have been no cases of MERS-CoV patients having been reported in the city, according to Pham Thu Xanh, Director of the provincial Health Department./.

( Compiled by VNF )