People from West African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak will have to sign a medical declaration before entering Vietnam from August 15. Any person suspected of having come into contact with the virus will be stopped at airports or border gates by quarantine staff, isolated and given medical support. The move follows an action plan by the Ministry of Health to prevent the Ebola virus infection from entering the country. As yet, there is no licensed vaccine for the disease. The health ministry has asked the ministries of Public Security, National Defense, Transport and Foreign Affairs to join hands in supervising the signing of the medical declaration by people entering the country. The ministry said on Aug 7 that Vietnam had not recorded any cases of the virus. However, an alert has been issued that it could enter Vietnam with Vietnamese and other visitors arriving from affected countries in West Africa. Therefore, the health ministry and concerned agencies have taken prompt action to prevent the entry of the disease. People are advised to maintain their personal hygiene to prevent the disease. The World Health Organization said that as of August 4, the number of Ebola virus infections in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone was 1,711, including 932 deaths. According to WHO, Ebola virus disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. Ebola virus disease is a severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. (Vietnam News Aug 9)
