Vietnam continues to assess and closely monitor the monkeypox epidemic situation.

According to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Vietnamese authorities have proactively strengthened the prevention and control of monkeypox, and provided guidance on disease surveillance and prevention.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang. (Photo: Van Diep/VNA)

On the afternoon of August 22, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to reporters' questions about controlling the monkeypox epidemic in Vietnam, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said that the World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a global public health emergency due to the rapid increase of this disease in many African countries.

To proactively detect domestic and foreign cases entering Vietnam, Vietnamese authorities have proactively strengthened the prevention and control of monkeypox, and provided guidance on disease surveillance and prevention.

On August 19, the Ministry of Health also sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the Pasteur Institute, and infectious disease treatment institutes on strengthening the prevention and control of monkeypox and requested to continue strictly implementing the instructions in Official Dispatch No. 680 dated August 1, 2022 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the prevention and control of monkeypox and guidelines for monitoring and prevention and control of monkeypox.

The Prime Minister's dispatch also covers the diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox; prevention of monkeypox infection in medical examination and treatment facilities. Accordingly, Vietnam strengthens surveillance and detection of suspected cases at border gates and cases at medical examination and treatment facilities, public and private health facilities.

At the same time, health agencies and functional agencies coordinate with localities in strengthening communication on measures to prevent and combat monkeypox and inspect and direct epidemic prevention and control work in localities; review and update plans and scenarios for prevention and control to be ready to respond when an epidemic occurs in the area.

In the coming time, health agencies as well as disease prevention and control agencies will continue to assess and closely monitor the situation to promptly take necessary disease prevention and control measures to ensure people's safety./.

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