Infectious disease surveillance activities in Vietnam

Infectious disease surveillance activities in Vietnam (Internet image) 

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Infectious disease surveillance activities in Vietnam

- Supervising cases of infection, suspected infection and carrying of pathogens of infectious diseases.

- Supervising agents of infectious disease.

- Supervising vectors.

(Article 20 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2007)

2. Contents of infectious disease surveillance in Vietnam 

- Supervising cases of infection, suspected infection and carrying pathogens of infectious disease is to collect information on places, time and cases of morbidity and mortality; status of disease; status of immunology; major demographic characteristics and other necessary information.

In case of necessity, competent health agencies may take testing samples from persons suspected of suffering infectious diseases for supervision.

- Supervising agents of infectious disease is to collect information relating to types, bio-characteristics and ways of transmission from sources of transmission.

- Supervising vectors is to collect information relating to the quantity, density and composition of vectors and extent of their infection with agents of infectious disease.

(Article 21 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2007)

3. Infectious disease surveillance report in Vietnam 

- Infectious disease surveillance reports shall be sent to competent state agencies in charge of health. An infectious disease surveillance report contains information specified in Article 21 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2007.

- Infectious disease surveillance reports must be made in writing. In case of emergency, such a report may be transmitted by fax, e-mail, telegraph, telephone or verbally and a written version must be sent within 24 hours afterwards.

- Infectious disease surveillance reports include:

+ Periodical reports;

+ Quick reports:

+ Irregular reports.

- Upon receiving reports, competent state agencies in charge of health shall process information therein and notify reporting agencies thereof.

- If an epidemic is confirmed, state agencies in charge of health shall immediately report it to superior state agencies in charge of health and persons competent to declare epidemics.

(Article 22 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2007)

4. Responsibilities of infectious disease surveillance in Vietnam 

Responsibilities of infectious disease surveillance are stipulated in Article 23 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2007 as follows:

- Peoples Committees at all levels shall direct and organize infectious disease surveillance in localities.

- State agencies in charge of health shall assist Peoples Committees of the same level in directing health establishments to conduct infectious disease surveillance.

- Health establishments shall carry out infectious disease surveillance activities.

When detecting an environment with agents of a class-A infectious disease, a person suffering from a class-A infectious disease, a person suspected of suffering from a class-A infectious disease or a person carrying pathogens of a class-A infectious disease, health establishments shall notify state agencies in charge of health, and take cleansing, sterilization and disinfection and other measures for preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

- Agencies, organizations and individuals shall, upon detecting an infectious disease or its signs, notify the nearest Peoples Committees, specialized health agencies or health establishments.

- In the course of conducting infectious disease surveillance, testing establishments shall conduct tests at the request of competent health agencies.

- The Minister of Health shall issue regulations on professional techniques in infectious disease surveillance.

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other ministries and ministerial-level agencies shall, upon detecting infectious agents while performing their state management tasks and powers, coordinate with the Ministry of Health in surveillance activities.

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