On October 3rd, 2022, the Ministry of Health (MOH) sent an urgent official dispatch No. 5470/BYT-DP to the Committee of provinces and cities on strengthening the prevention of monkeypox disease.
Accordingly, the MOH considered that since May 2022, the monkeypox epidemic has increased continuously in both the number of cases and the number of countries/territories recording cases. On July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared this disease an international public health emergency. By September 26, 2022, there were 64,561 cases of monkeypox in 105 countries around the world. In particular, the Western Pacific has several countries recording cases, including: Australia (132), Singapore (19), China (5), New Zealand (5), Japan (4), Philippines (4). ), Korea (2), Guam (1), New Caledonia (1).
Before the complication of the monkeypox epidemic in the world and in some Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam; in order to proactively monitor, detect disease cases early, and control the epidemic in time to prevent an outbreak of monkeypox disease, and minimize the number of cases and deaths, the MOH proposed to the Committee of provinces and cities in directing the immediate implementation of the following activities:
- Directing departments, agencies, organizations and units within the area to strictly implement the direction of the Government and the Official Dispatch No. 680/CD-TTg dated August 1, 2022 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the prevention of monkeypox and the guidelines of the MOH: monitoring, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of monkeypox in humans; prevention of monkeypox infection in monkeypox medical examination and treatment establishments.
- Getting ready for local epidemic prevention and control:
– To step up the strict implementation of disease surveillance at border gates, supervision at medical treatment facilities and event-based surveillance in the community for early detection and timely prevention of epidemics.
– Organize training for health staff at all levels;
– Ensure the collection, classification, and treatment of patients at medical examination and treatment facilities and infection prevention at testing and medical facilities;
– Review and update response plans, scenarios, and drills according to specific situations to be ready to respond in the event of an epidemic;
– Be available with drugs, equipment, human resource, and funds.
- When a case is recorded:
– Urgently carry out a thorough investigation of all exposures to the case of Monkey Smallpox to identify the source of infection; timely manage and handle the outbreak to prevent the epidemic from spreading to the community.
– Organize quarantine, treatment of positive cases, avoid death, pay attention to cross-infection for medical staff during care and treatment process.
- Promote communication in various methods to the communities about disease prevention measures at border gates and about monkeypox epidemic as recommended by the MOH.
- Strictly implement informing and reporting work follow regulations.
Source: Vietnam Ministry of Health
