Hanoi (VNA) – A working group from the Health Ministry on January21 inspected the readiness of the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi followingthe outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia that has made more than 200 people infectedin China and caused two deaths there.

The medical staff examined screening for passengers exhibiting symptomspossibly connected with the novel virus at the airport, which serve 115-120international flights each day, including up to 16 from China.

According to doctor Nguyen Hai Nam from the Hanoi Centre for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC), quarantine work at airport is the first effort made toprevent the disease.

Although there is no direct flight from Wuhan where the first cases of theacute pneumonia were found, screening has been enhanced for flights from Chinaand countries reporting cases of the deadly virus.

“CDC staff will work all around the clock at the airport. Particularly, we haveplanned to increase human resources and equipment during Tet (Lunar New Year)as there is a high risk for the coronavirus to enter the country due to growingnumber of travellers”, he said.

Currently, there are four body temperature scanners at the airport, and twospare devices in case of necessity.

Deputy head of the Preventive Medicine Department Dang Quang Tan asked the CDCto carry out suitable measures in prevention of the virus, with due attentionpaid to international quarantine process as well as careful check of medicineand medical equipment.
No coronaviruscases have been reported in Vietnam so far, according to the PreventiveMedicine Department.

Two Chinese peoplefrom China’s Wuhan city who were in Vietnam were tested negative for the virus.They were discharged from hospital and returned to their country, thedepartment said.

The healthministry will continue to closely supervise the disease at border gates,hospitals and in the community to get ready for treatment and management.

According to WorldHealth Organisation (WHO), cases of acute pneumonia caused by coronavirus werereported in Wuhan city. The first patient developed symptoms on December 12last year. As many as 45 people in the city were reported to be suffering fromthe disease by January 19.

The first deathfrom the virus occurred in the city on January 9. Two other cases have beendetected in Thailand and Japan with health authorities in both countries sayingthe patients had visited Wuhan prior to their hospitalisation./.