Directive No. 04/2005/CT-BYT on taking proactive measures to prevent and control summer epidemics

DIRECTIVE

On the proactive prevention and control of infectious diseases during the summer season

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According to the World Health Organization's announcement, the situation of some infectious diseases causing epidemics in several countries continues to evolve complexly and shows an increasing trend: In Senegal, from May 1 to May 15, 2005, there were 509 cases of cholera recorded, including 6 deaths, with a mortality rate of 1.2%; in India, from March 29 to May 10, 2005, 214 cases of meningococcal meningitis were recorded, including 16 deaths, with a mortality rate of 7.5%; in Angola, up to May 10, 2005, 316 cases of Marburg virus hemorrhagic fever were recorded, including 276 deaths, with a mortality rate of 87%. Avian influenza has appeared in 12 countries and has spread to humans in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The World Health Organization has warned about the risk of mutation of the avian influenza virus that could create a strain with strong transmission capability from person to person, potentially causing a global pandemic with approximately 2 to 7 million deaths.

In Vietnam, according to reports from localities, from the beginning of 2005 to now, there have been 230,876 cases of diarrhea recorded, including 2 deaths, 11,298 cases of bacillary dysentery, 8,131 cases of dengue fever, 4 deaths, 616 cases of typhoid fever, and 49 cases of influenza A (H5N1), including 17 deaths. The weather this year has many complex changes: prolonged heatwaves, droughts, storms, floods are favorable factors for the development of infectious diseases causing epidemics. In light of the above situation, to proactively prevent and control some dangerous infectious diseases commonly occurring during the summer season, and to prevent large-scale epidemics, the Minister of Health issues the following directive:

1. Directors of Health Departments of provinces/cities directly under the Central Government

a) Advise provincial/municipal People's Committees on directing relevant agencies within their jurisdiction to proactively implement measures to prevent and control infectious diseases;

b) Develop action plans, budget structures, prepare medicines, chemicals, and materials for disease prevention and control;

c) Direct Provincial Health Centers to strengthen surveillance, detection, and timely handling of cases, thoroughly eliminate foci of infection, prevent outbreaks, pay attention to old foci, key areas, transportation hubs... Strengthen food safety inspections, environmental sanitation, and provision of clean water.

d) Direct healthcare facilities under their management to prepare sufficient stocks of medicines, emergency treatment equipment, and other facilities to promptly diagnose, admit, and treat patients in case of an epidemic;

đ) For localities with international border gates, strictly inspect incoming passengers from regions currently experiencing epidemics or old foci of infection, preventing the entry of infectious diseases;

e) Direct Provincial Health Education and Communication Centers to cooperate with mass media agencies within their jurisdiction to organize publicity and education on hygiene measures to prevent diseases so that people understand and voluntarily take preventive measures as well as participate in disease prevention activities in their locality;

g) Strictly implement information reporting systems as stipulated in the "Regulation on Information Reporting of Infectious Diseases Causing Epidemics" issued together with Decision No. 4880/2002/QĐ-BYT dated December 6, 2002, by the Minister of Health.

2. National Center for Preventive Medicine

a) Closely monitor the epidemic situation to advise the Minister of Health on directing the prevention and control of summer infectious diseases nationwide;

b) Directly direct, urge, and inspect localities and units under the preventive medicine system to implement disease prevention measures;

c) Coordinate with the Department of Treatment - Ministry of Health in organizing training for localities and units on diagnosing and treating infectious diseases causing epidemics.

3. Department of Treatment

a) Advise the Minister of Health on organizing, directing, and inspecting the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases causing epidemics nationwide;

b) Direct national hospitals and provincial/city hospitals to prepare sufficient medicines, resuscitation equipment, and necessary means for diagnosing and treating infectious diseases causing epidemics;

c) Develop and supplement emergency treatment protocols for certain infectious diseases causing epidemics and guide their implementation at healthcare facilities nationwide.

4. Department of Planning and Finance

Aggregate, mobilize, coordinate, and respond to resources for disease prevention from state budgets and domestic and foreign organizations.

5. National Health Education and Communication Center

a) Advise the Minister of Health on directing publicity activities on disease prevention. Coordinate with the National Center for Preventive Medicine and propaganda agencies to implement information dissemination and publicity activities on the epidemic situation;

b) Coordinate with central-level mass media agencies to organize campaigns on disease prevention.

6. Institutes: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute, Western Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology

a) Direct localities to strengthen surveillance, detection, determination of causative agents, sources of infection, and proactively implement measures to control risk factors causing epidemics. Organize training sessions on epidemic prevention for localities in their respective regions;

b) Prepare sufficient disinfectants, equipment, and specialized materials to implement epidemic control activities, establish epidemic response teams ready to support localities when epidemics occur.

7. National Hospitals under the Ministry of Health

a) Prepare sufficient stocks of medicines, medical equipment, and other necessary means to promptly support localities and effectively manage patient reception, emergency care, and treatment according to the Ministry of Health's directives;

b) Dispatch specialized staff and treatment teams ready to support localities upon request.

8. Other Units under the Ministry of Health

Cooperate with related units to organize disease prevention activities when required within their assigned functions and responsibilities.

Upon receipt of this Directive, heads of units under the Ministry, Directors of Health Departments of provinces/cities directly under the Central Government shall immediately implement it and report results to the Ministry of Health./.