Socialist Republic of Vietnam

HA NOI (April 3, 2003) — No new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome have been identified in Viet Nam for eight consecutive days, according to the latest report from the World Health Organisation.

The WHO report suggested that the outbreak of the fatal disease is now well under control in Viet Nam, despite its swift spread elsewhere in Asia.

The Ministry of Health has stated that the number of patients infected by atypical pneumonia was down to seven, and 26 have been discharged from hospitals.

Four of these seven patients are in recovery, ministry officials said.

Twenty-five others have recovered but remain in hospital and will soon be discharged, following guidelines issued by the WHO and Ministry of Health.

These people and their associates would be carefully monitored to ensure the disease was not spread, the WHO said.

Since Viet Nam detected its first SARS patient in late February, ministry figures show 62 people have been infected by the disease that has killed at least 60 people and infected more than 1,600 worldwide.

WHO said that it would continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure strict infection control in the hospitals, as well as ongoing surveillance for potential new cases in Viet Nam.

Late on Monday, Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien, who is also the head of the National Epidemic Prevention Committee, worked with the leaders of provinces bordering China to ensure no new cases enter the country.

She has suggested that the prime minister direct all provinces to establish epidemic prevention committees and close certain border gates to prevent the spread of the disease.

The minister also recommended that Vietnamese travellers should avoid countries that have been hit by the disease.

Six northern provinces bordering China, and the northern port city of Hai Phong, would also establish isolation wards and specialised ambulances ready to receive patients with SARS, she said.

The ministry will distribute WHO-donated surgical masks, antibiotics and special clothes to border provinces, and equip them with 200 hospital beds, 100 oxygen generators and 60 oxygen respirators.

Chinese travellers make up an increasing amount of foreign arrivals in Viet Nam, with most of them coming through the border provinces.

Chien estimated that epidemic prevention measures would cost VND71 billion (about US$4.7 million), but the Government had so far disbursed VND16 billion (over $1 million).

She said tour guides and hotel receptionists will be informed about the disease and required to immediately report suspected cases to authorities.

Tour guides must also report the number of tourists travelling with them, and provide their itineraries.

Chien said that local people’s committees will have the authority to shut down any restaurant or hotel if it is found to have been infected.

According to the Hanoi French Hospital, a French military medical team arrived in Ha Noi on Sunday to replace 11 French experts who had arrived in country two weeks ago. — VNS