Ministry of Health requests to develop a scenario to prevent monkeypox epidemic

In particular, from the beginning of July 2023 until now, Vietnam has continuously recorded cases of the disease.

Cases have been recorded in 7 provinces/cities: Ho Chi Minh City (46), Lam Dong (2), Long An (2), Binh Duong (1), Dong Nai (1), Tay Ninh (1), Can Tho (1), including 01 death in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ministry of Health requires building a scenario to fight the epidemic in the first months of the year, picture 1 — The Ministry of Health requested to develop a scenario to prevent Monkeypox epidemic (illustrative photo).

The median age was 32 (18-49), most were male (92.9%), with sexual orientation being homosexual and bisexual men (MSM): 78.6%, heterosexual (8.9%); about 63% of cases were infected with HIV, 46% of cases had other sexually transmitted diseases.

This is a new epidemic recorded in our country, the pathogen has penetrated the community, so in the coming time, it is likely that Vietnam will continue to record new cases, especially in other major cities outside of Ho Chi Minh City.

Continuing to implement Official Dispatch No. 680/CD-TTg dated August 1, 2022 of the Prime Minister and to proactively monitor the Monkeypox epidemic, promptly deploy epidemic prevention and control measures, and minimize the number of infections and deaths, on November 3, the Department of Preventive Medicine issued Official Dispatch No. 1330/DP to the Directors of the Departments of Health of provinces and centrally run cities requesting to strengthen proactive monitoring at medical examination and treatment facilities, event-based monitoring in the community and at border gates (if there are border gates);

Integrate surveillance with HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities, surveillance at gynecological and dermatological examination facilities, public and private health facilities providing HIV/AIDS prevention and control services (HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP, ARV treatment) to detect cases, clusters of cases, sources of infection, thereby providing counseling, care and treatment services;

Manage cases and contacts to prevent further infection and spread to the community and prevent infection among health workers. Provide HIV counseling and testing for patients and sexual partners of patients with Monkeypox.

For suspected cases, samples should be taken for testing, contacted, and sent to the regional Pasteur/VSDT Institute for testing and diagnosis.

Organize training for medical staff at all levels on monitoring, prevention, care, treatment, and control of monkeypox infection.

Proactively develop and update plans and scenarios for disease prevention and control according to situations to be ready to respond when an epidemic occurs in the area; prepare medicine, equipment, human resources, and funding to implement measures for admission, treatment, and disease prevention and control.

Continue to communicate measures to prevent and control monkeypox epidemic according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, focusing on communicating to high-risk groups, and at the same time recommending people to proactively report to health agencies when having suspected symptoms or having the disease.

Source