Ministry of Health to request enhancement of measures against Mpox in Vietnam

Ministry of Health to request enhancement of measures against Mpox in Vietnam (Image from the internet)

On August 19, 2024, the Ministry of Health of Vietnamissued Official Dispatch 4849/BYT-DP regarding the enhancement of measures against mpox, including the implementation of preventive measures.

Ministry of Health to request enhancement of measures against Mpox in Vietnam

In 2024, particularly in the past two months, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded an unusually high increase in mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the beginning of the year, the country has reported approximately 15,600 cases, including over 537 deaths. The Clade Ib strain of the mpox virus is predominant in this outbreak, and some initial findings show different epidemiological characteristics compared to the previous outbreak from 2022-2024 in Europe and other countries. Notably, the affected individuals are younger (about 50% under the age of 15, around 39% under 5 years old), transmission occurs through female sex workers (7.5%), and infections are seen within household members. Additionally, four neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda) have reported mpox cases linked to the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sweden and Pakistan, outside of Africa, have also reported cases of Clade Ib. In response to this evolving situation and the risk of spread to other countries, WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the mpox outbreak on August 14, 2024.

To proactively monitor, promptly detect mpox cases locally and from outside, control the outbreak to prevent widespread transmission, and minimize cases and deaths, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally administered cities to direct; the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur Institutes; and the terminal hospitals for infectious diseases to immediately implement the following actions:

(1) The People's Committees of provinces and cities to focus on directing:

- Departments, branches, agencies, units throughout the area to strictly implement the directives of the Government of Vietnam, the Prime Minister of Vietnam at Official Telegram 680/CD-TTg dated August 01, 2022, regarding the enhancement of measures against mpox, and follow the guidelines for disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mpox in medical establishments issued by the Ministry of Health.

- Intensify surveillance to promptly detect suspected cases at border checkpoints; conduct active surveillance in medical facilities, incorporating HIV/AIDS prevention activities, gynecological and dermatological clinics, and both public and private healthcare providers offering HIV/AIDS services.

- Organize training for healthcare workers on monitoring, preventive measures, care, treatment, and infection prevention for mpox.

- Review and update response plans and scenarios to be ready for any outbreak; ensure the availability of medications, equipment, personnel, and budget to implement containment and treatment measures.

- Strengthen information dissemination and communication about mpox preventive measures, targeting high-risk groups as advised by the Ministry of Health (attached).

- Enhance inspection, surveillance, and directive measures against the outbreak in local areas.

- Promptly report suspected and confirmed mpox cases via the website: https://macabenh.vncdc.gov.vn/?mod=monkey (support phone: 0387525938).

(2) Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur Institutes, and terminal hospitals for infectious diseases should:

- Analyze, evaluate, and closely monitor the mpox situation in local areas to swiftly detect cases, clusters, sources of transmission, new or unusual pathogens (if any). Proactively report and advise the Ministry of Health on preventive measures.

- Review and ensure readiness of equipment, reagents, and laboratory techniques for diagnosis and treatment.

- Continue organizing training sessions, supporting localities in outbreak surveillance, handling outbreaks, and treating cases; assist in specimen collection and diagnostic testing.

- Be proactive and ready with medications, equipment, personnel, and budget to implement classification, containment, treatment, and preventive measures.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 4849/BYT-DP issued on August 19, 2024.

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