Vietnam closely monitors Chinese pneumonia outbreak: Ministry

Vietnam's Ministry of Health (MoH) is continuing to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) to closely monitor the ongoing severe pneumonia outbreak in central China, and taking measures to prevent sick people from entering Vietnam, Zing reported.
According to the MoH’s General Department of Preventive Medicine, China continues to record cases of acute pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan city, Hubei province.

A seafood market in Wuhan where dozens of people were found to be infected with severe pneumonia virus. Photo: SCMP

As of January 5, Wuhan had recorded 44 cases of viral pneumonia of unknown origin, including 11 patients in critical condition. Two patients have fully recovered, others are stable and no fatalities have been reported so far, the general department said.
On January 5, Singapore reported the first case of acute pneumonia which is possibly linked to the Central Chinese city of Wuhan. However, the test result showed no infection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which affects the respiratory tract.
The Chinese health ministry has taken measures to control the outbreak and conducted more testing to identify the specific cause, especially in Huanan Seafood Market, where many cases have been recorded. Local authorities have closed the market for further investigation.
There has been no evidence so far of human-to-human transmission. No medical workers have been infected with the virus, according to the Chinese health ministry.
Initial test results show that the causative agent is not the common viruses that cause respiratory infections such as seasonal flu, influenza A, adenovirus. The Chinese health ministry continues to do tests to determine the cause of the disease.
The Vietnam MoH has set up an active disease surveillance system to regularly check travelers at border gates, health facilities, and in the community to prevent the spread of epidemics.