HCMC: Proactively preventing monkeypox epidemic

SGGPO 09/26/2023 08:30

People who have been in close contact with the monkeypox case residing in the city have been instructed to self-monitor their health at home for 21 days. Instructions have been given to thoroughly clean and disinfect the patient's entire boarding house and personal belongings.

Regarding the newly discovered monkeypox case in Dong Nai, on September 26, the City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said that the patient was temporarily residing in Ho Chi Minh City and had visited the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, so the city's health sector has launched an epidemiological investigation and isolated the area for treatment.

HCDC has investigated the patient's travel history and compiled a list of 8 people who had close contact with the patient. Among these 8 people, 1 is a friend of the patient who currently resides in Binh Duong province. This person has tested positive for monkeypox. Thus, to date, Vietnam has recorded 4 cases of monkeypox.

Close contacts residing in the city have been instructed to self-monitor their health at home for 21 days. Instructions have been given to thoroughly clean and disinfect the patient's entire boarding house and personal belongings.

These close contacts are currently stable, with no unusual symptoms. In the 3 weeks before the onset of symptoms, the patient was only in Vietnam. Currently, HCDC is continuing to investigate and monitor the health of the patient and contacts.

Previously, on September 22, Mr. LVT (25 years old, permanent address in Xuan Truong commune, Xuan Loc district, Dong Nai province, temporarily residing in Ho Chi Minh City) went to the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital for examination with suspected signs of monkeypox. The hospital took samples for testing and sent them to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City. One day later, the test results at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City showed that the patient was positive for monkeypox virus. The patient is currently being isolated for treatment.

On the afternoon of September 25, the Department of Health of Binh Duong province also recorded the first monkeypox case, related to the case in Dong Nai. The patient is Ms. NKL (22 years old, living in Cong Xanh quarter, Tan Binh commune, Bac Tan Uyen district, Binh Duong province). Ms. L. is a friend of Dong Nai's first monkeypox patient, Mr. LVT.

HCDC recommends that to proactively prevent monkeypox, people should proactively implement the following disease prevention measures:

1. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Do not spit in public places.

2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water or hand sanitizer.

3. People with symptoms of acute rash of unknown cause accompanied by one or more suspicious symptoms should proactively contact a medical facility for timely monitoring and consultation. At the same time, they should proactively self-isolate and avoid sexual intercourse.

4. Avoid close contact with people with monkeypox, avoid direct contact with wounds, body fluids, droplets and objects and utensils contaminated with the pathogen. In case there is someone in your residence/workplace who is infected or suspected of being infected, you need to notify the health authority for timely advice and treatment, do not self-treat.

5. People traveling to countries where monkeypox is endemic (Central and West Africa) should avoid contact with mammals (dead or alive) such as rodents, marsupials, and primates that may contain monkeypox virus. When returning to Vietnam, they should proactively report to local health authorities for advice.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-chu-dong-phong-chong-dich-benh-dau-mua-khi-post707090.html