On Tuesday, the directors of all the hospitals in Da Nang together discussed effective measures to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the city.

According to the World Health Organisation, 1,848 suspected, probable or confirmed Ebola cases have been recorded in West African countries, and the death toll from the epidemic had soared to 1,013 by yesterday, 12 August.

The city’s Department of Health will direct either the Da Nang General Hospital or the city’s Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital to accept Ebola patients if there is an outbreak in the city.  The reasoning is that these 2 hospitals are now the largest medical establishments in the city and they both have departments of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, along with isolation wards.

Air passengers’ travel histories will be carefully checked to prevent Ebola entering the city

Meanwhile, medical workers at the city’s Preventive Medicine Centre, the municipal Emergency Centre 115, and the local hospitals have yet to be equipped with waterproof protective clothing, including masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles, to reduce the risk of contracting Ebola.

Also at the discussions, representatives from the municipal Centre for International Health Quarantine noted that customs staff at the city’s International Airport and local ports are at high risk of the disease because they might contract Ebola by touching foreign passengers’ passports.  However, they have also yet to be provided with any personal protective equipment.  In addition, aircraft disinfectants are not available at the centre.  Meanwhile, the 2 vehicles at the city’s Emergency Centre 115 which will be used to carry Ebola patients have yet to be disinfected.

The Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Health, Mrs Ngo Thi Kim Yen, remarked that top priority will be given to ensuring sufficient supplies of personal protective clothing for local medical staff and others.  In addition, she urged the municipal People’s Committee to buy more medical equipment and devices to provide effective examinations and treatment for Ebola patients.