On Thursday evening, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son met with leaders of the Da Nang Department of Health. The intention was to check measures to control the deadly coronavirus in the city, which has killed more than 200 people in China since it was first detected in Wuhan Province.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son (2nd right) at a meeting with leaders of the municipal Department of Health

During his inspection visit to Da Nang International Airport, Deputy Minister Son highly appreciated the city’s careful process of checking passengers' temperatures as they arrive at the airport.

According to Dr Ngo Thi Kim Yen, Director of the municipal Department of Health, the Da Nang International Airport has been already equipped with 7 body infrared scanners. If a passenger gets a fever, quarantine officers will then put the suspected person under the health examination. Here, the suspected case will be re-checked body temperature, and identified accompanying symptoms.

She added the airport’s quarantine officers are on duty around the clock. They will join forces with the city's Emergency Centre 115 and the Da Nang General Hospital to take suspected cases to the special isolated area, and carry out cleaning and disinfection steps under the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Deputy Minister Son checking the monitoring and screening of passengers’ body temperature as they arrive at Da Nang International Airport

Meanwhile, people suspected of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection will be monitored and isolated at a special area at the Da Nang General Hospital. Besides, their throat swabs and blood serum samples will be taken for the tests of the 2019-nCoV.

Dr Le Duc Nhan, Director of the hospital, said a special isolated area has been set up on the 4^th floor of the hospital’s Tropical Medicine Department. This isolated area features one-way walkway systems meeting WHO standards for prevention and control of infectious diseases.

He added suspected coronavirus patients would be transported by special vehicles which are cleaned and disinfected twice before and after transportation.

“The hospital has established 4 rapid-response teams with over 20 doctors in total. As of 9.00pm on 30 January, the hospital had put 18 people with a fever in quarantine for coronavirus infection tests”, Dr Nhan noted.

Keeping careful watch for epidemics with body temperature measurement

Director Yen emphasised suspected cases would be firstly isolated at the city-based Lung Hospital. Meanwhile, the Da Nang General Hospital and the city's Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital will be responsible for giving medical treatment to anyone who tests positive for new strain of coronavirus.

She also said about 20 billion VND from the city budget has been spent on buying medical equipment in order to help health facilities citywide prompt good infection control of 2019-nCoV.

Deputy Minister Son highly lauded the city’s great efforts, especially the timely guidance of the city leaders, in implementing measures to prevent and control infectious diseases caused by 2019-nCoV.

He also stressed the necessity for the city's health sector to develop a plan to prevent and cope with a possible virus outbreak. He also urged the municipal Department of Health to increase inspections and information dissemination at industrial parks where foreigners are working.

By PHAN CHUNG - Translated by MAI DUNG