Shocked by the risk of Ho Chi Minh City being infected with disease X, the Ministry of Health intervenes?

The outbreak of Disease X in Congo is attracting special attention from countries around the world, including Vietnam. The Department of Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health are taking measures to prevent the risk of this strange disease entering the city.

The outbreak began in the Panzi area of Kwango Province in rural Congo. As of December 12, 2024, WHO and Africa CDC had recorded 527 cases, including 32 deaths. Children were particularly affected, with nearly 55% of the infection rate compared to other age groups. Common symptoms include fever, headache, cough, runny nose, and muscle pain, raising concerns about the possibility of the disease spreading internationally.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC assess the risk in Congo as very high, but the DRC assesses it as moderate, due to the local nature of the current outbreak. At the regional and global levels, WHO assesses the risk as low, but close monitoring is still needed, especially at the border with neighboring Angola.

More worryingly, food shortages and poor health care facilities in the area increase the danger of the disease, especially when more than 25 million Congolese people, including nearly 4.5 million children, are malnourished. This makes the disease more difficult to control and more dangerous than ever.

In Vietnam, specifically Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Health has said that the city does not have direct flights from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and Congo's international airports are not in the epidemic area according to the WHO report. However, due to the movement of passengers from risk areas, Ho Chi Minh City still identifies potential risks.

In response to the risk of the disease spreading to Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Ho Chi Minh City Maritime Port have increased disease control measures. Medical quarantine officers are on duty 24/7 at international gateways to monitor incoming passengers, check body temperatures and observe for unusual health symptoms.

In addition, Boma seaport in Kinshasa City (DR Congo) is not located in the epidemic area, and the travel time from here to Ho Chi Minh City takes about 30-40 days, enough time for authorities to detect early if there is a suspected case.

To be more proactive in responding to the epidemic situation, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) has developed a comprehensive surveillance plan at international border gates and in the community. The early warning surveillance system has been activated at medical facilities and communities, including 22 districts and Thu Duc City. The network of community health collaborators is ready to promptly investigate and handle epidemics if any.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health also directed the HCDC to organize training and coaching for rapid response teams, prepare treatment plans and admit patients when suspected cases are detected. These measures are to ensure that the disease does not spread in the community.

When information about the X epidemic in Congo spread, many Vietnamese people, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, expressed their concern and concern about the epidemic situation. However, many people also expressed their confidence in Ho Chi Minh City's disease control measures. Many people said that the authorities are doing their best to protect public health and prevent the disease from entering.

In the context of the epidemic in Congo, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health recommends that people limit their travel to epidemic areas if not necessary. For those who have traveled to epidemic areas, they should pay attention to monitoring their health and go to a medical facility immediately if they have suspicious symptoms. Providing complete information about travel history will help medical facilities diagnose and treat promptly, while preventing the spread of the disease in the community.

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