Implementation of measures for disease prevention and control, and environmental sanitation during and after rain and floods in Vietnam

Implementation of measures for disease prevention and control, and environmental sanitation during and after rain and floods in Vietnam (Image from the internet)

Implementation of measures for disease prevention and control, and environmental sanitation during and after rain and floods in Vietnam

On September 12, 2024, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch 5400/BYT-DP on Implementation of measures for disease prevention and control, and environmental sanitation during and after rain and floods in Vietnam.

Typhoon No. 3 and the subsequent weather conditions have caused heavy rains in many provinces and cities in the northern region, especially in the northern mountainous and midland provinces, leading to flooding, landslides, mudslides, and flash floods in many localities, causing human and property damages and greatly affecting the health and livelihoods of residents. Following the directive of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam and to proactively respond to the aftermath of Typhoon No. 3 and upcoming natural disasters, while ensuring effective epidemic prevention and response and environmental sanitation during and after floods and inundation to prevent health-related consequences for the population; the Ministry of Health respectfully requests the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to direct the implementation of the following measures:

- Review, supplement, and prepare ready plans and methods for epidemic prevention and control in natural disaster situations in a manner suitable to the local realities; review and assess the risk of epidemics in areas affected by heavy rains, especially in flooded, landslide, mudslide, and flash flood-prone areas; actively deploy epidemic prevention plans when disaster situations occur; strengthen and maintain mobile epidemic response teams to support lower-level monitoring and handling of diseases, especially infectious diseases endemic during floods and inundation. Assign responsibility to the People’s Committees at all levels and related units to coordinate inter-sectoral implementation of effective epidemic prevention and environmental sanitation measures in response to natural disasters and heavy rain.

- Organize monitoring, early detection, and thorough treatment of epidemic outbreaks during and after floods, inundation, flash floods, and landslides such as diarrhea, conjunctivitis, respiratory infections, dermatophytosis, flu, dengue fever, particularly preventing gastrointestinal transmission-related diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, etc.

- Ensure a reserve and adequate supply of clean water in affected areas; enhance inspection and monitoring of clean water quality for domestic use; provide sufficient authorized disinfection chemicals and products within their expiration dates to treat water in emergencies and guide water treatment during floods and inundation; carry out environmental sanitation post-flood and inundation under the principle of restoring environmental cleanliness as water recedes, organize the collection and processing of animal carcasses to prevent the outbreak of contagious diseases. Spray insecticides in areas at risk.

- Ensure continuous emergency and regular medical check-ups and treatment both inside and outside medical facilities, ready to admit and treat patients and have contingency plans in place when an epidemic breaks out in flooded and inundated areas.

- Organize awareness campaigns and guide residents in areas affected by floods and inundation about the risk of diseases and epidemic prevention measures as recommended for common diseases during floods and inundation; emergency environmental and water treatment measures to prevent epidemic diseases during floods and inundation based on health agency guidelines.

- Have a plan to ensure resources to meet the requirements for the activities of healthcare facilities during flood and inundation situations; Direct healthcare facilities to always ensure sufficient manpower, medicines, chemicals, equipment, and facilities to serve epidemic prevention activities in flood and inundation-prone areas.

- Direct healthcare units to monitor and promptly report the disease situation thoroughly through the infectious disease reporting software in accordance with Circular 54/2015/TT-BYT dated December 28, 2015, issued by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam guiding policies for reporting and declaration of diseases and infectious epidemics.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 5400/BYT-DP dated September 12, 2024.

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