The health sector in the Mekong Delta is bracing to tackle the spread of diseases during the Tet festive season, implementing several countermeasures in the process.
The Department of Health in Can Tho City has asked its subdivisions to implement measures to prevent the spread of influenza. Medical facilities and people have been alerted against people travelling from abroad who can carry the infection. Any cases should be timely treated to curb transmission to others.
Hospitals must prepare enough drugs, beds and other necessities to tackle any emergency situation.
Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and An Giang Provinces have been asked to prevent diseases in poultry and cattle and vets have been asked to maintain their facilities. They must keep all vaccines ready, especially to cope with roaming water-fowl.
An outbreak of infectious diseases in the South can develop into a bigger pandemic situation. For instance, the region has more than 75,000 hand-foot-mouth patients with two reported deaths already.
Dengue fever has broken out everywhere in the region affecting 70,000 people and killing 61 so far.
