Hanoi has been stepping up precautionary measures to ward offtransmission risk of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus(MERS-CoV), as heard at a meeting on June 18 in Hanoi between HealthMinister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and the municipal authorities.

For the early detection of passengers with MERS-CoV symptoms, thecity is conducting temperature screenings at Noi Bai InternationalAirport. Some 988 flights carrying over 128,000 passengers from affectedareas were monitored in June, including 156 flights hailing from theRepublic of Korea (RoK) and the Middle East.

Once any suspected passenger patient is detected, he or she will beadmitted to either the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases or the BacThang Long, Dong Da, Thanh Nhan, Duc Giang and Ha Dong hospital. Fieldhospitals are to be established if needed.

Some65 mobile medical teams and 1,740 medical staff have been provided withadditional training at local districts and communes.

In addition, the capital has devised plans to deal with any outbreakemergency alongside proper clinical approaches to those infected atdifferent stages of the disease.

Among eight keyprevention measures enacted by Hanoi authorities are strict supervisionat border gates, educating people on disease self-prevention, providingtraining for medical staff and ensuring sufficient medical personnel,facilities and medicines.

Hanoi authorities haveasked the Health Ministry to continually update the city on theoutbreak and engage the ministries of transport and public security inthe effort.

Speaking at the meeting, MinisterTien spoke highly of the capital’s active efforts against the earlyspread of MERS virus and urged the city to learn from the best practicesof other countries for an effective and cost-efficient epidemic controlsolution.

She pledged additional support to help train medical staff at the grassroots levels.-VNA