On August 19, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health issued a directive on urging local authorities to strengthen the monitoring and detection of suspected monkeypox cases at border checkpoints and to implement proactive surveillance within medical facilities.
The health ministry made the order as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a significant and unusual increase in monkeypox cases, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with 15,600 cases, including 537 deaths, attributed to the Clade Ib strain of the monkeypox virus. The WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the monkeypox outbreak on August 14.
Under the directive, the health ministry called for enhanced measures to prevent, detect, and respond to monkeypox cases, clusters, and new or unusual sources of infection. The ministry also urged local authorities to promptly report and advise on further public health actions.
Local health authorities were instructed to train healthcare workers on surveillance, prevention, care, treatment, and infection control for monkeypox. They were also urged to prepare for various outbreak scenarios, ensuring readiness in terms of medication, equipment, personnel, and funding to implement appropriate classification, treatment, and prevention measures.
(Tin Tuc [1], Tuoi Tre [2], QDND [3], Thanh Tra [4], VnExpress [5], VnEconomy [6], vov2.vov.vn [7], TBTCVN [8])