The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Monday asked local authorities and major hospitals in charge of treating infectious diseases nationwide to maintain strict vigilance against mpox, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a public health emergency for the second time in two years.

WHO made the declaration last Wednesday, following an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has spread to neighboring countries.

The health ministry demanded that the said units ramp up their mpox prevention and control efforts to ensure early detection of domestic and imported mpox cases, to avert the spread of the disease, and to minimize the number of cases and deaths.

The local administrations were asked to enhance the surveillance and detection of probable mpox cases at border gates and medical facilities, while taking HIV/AIDS prevention and control measures at gynecological, dermatological, public, and private healthcare facilities that provide HIV/AIDS prevention services.

The ministry underlined the need to provide healthcare workers with training sessions regarding mpox prevention, treatment, and control.

Provinces and cities nationwide must be in a state of preparedness to combat possible outbreaks of mpox in their places.

They have to make timely reports on cases of suspected or confirmed mpox to the national disease surveillance system.

As for institutes of hygiene and epidemiology and Pasteur Institutes across Vietnam, they were tasked with evaluating and closely monitoring the developments of the disease to promptly detect cases, clusters, sources of infection, as well as new or unusual causes of the ailment.

They must ensure the availability of equipment to diagnose and treat mpox, and provide the locals with support in coping with mpox outbreaks.

According to the health ministry, Vietnam has so far recorded more than 100 mpox cases, 90 percent of which were found in men, with ‘men who have sex with men’ representing the highest rate.

Typical symptoms of monkeypox include a rash that can last for two to four weeks, along with a fever of 38.5 degrees Celsius, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.

The rash often appears as blisters or sores and can develop on the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, and genital or anal areas.

People at high risk of severe mpox or its complications include pregnant women, children, and people with a weakened immune system.

The agency also noted that transmission can also be from mothers to fetuses or during close interactions between the mother and baby during and after birth.

Those with symptoms of mpox should promptly go to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment.

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