Ministry of Health maintains high vigilance for Zika virus
Updated information on the latest development of Zika virus and response measures suitable with the situation was the focus of a meeting of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
Mosquito Aedes Aegypti can transmit several tropical fevers, including diseases caused by Zika virus.(Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Updated information on the latest development of Zika virus and response measures suitable with the situation was the focus of a meeting of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) held by the Ministry of Health on May 1.
According to the representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the meeting, as of April 28, Zika virus has existed in 68 countries and territories and Zika infections passed by mosquitoes have been reported in 55 countries and territories.
In Vietnam, according to reports from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and localities, no new Zika cases have been discovered following the reporting of two cases in Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa province.
Health experts, however, said in the near future there is a high risk of new Zika cases, especially in regions prone to dengue fever, so the number of cases may increase during the upcoming dengue fever season this summer.
The General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health confirmed that at the moment Vietnam is applying a Level 2 warning alert according to the action plan on preventing Zika virus and to fight against the disease.
Agencies under the MoH will maintain high vigilance, and continue to take test samples with a view to early detecting and dealing with any emerging cases as well as to intensify public communications campaigns on killing mosquitoes and larvae.
The MoH will continue working closely with the WHO and international organisations to update expert instructions in the supervision, prevention and response to the Zika virus.
𝓡 The WHO and the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention earlier scientifically agreed that Zika virus is one of the reasons causing small brain in babies.-VNA
Twenty-six out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide have thus far implemented an anti-mosquito campaign within households in an effort to prevent dengue fever and Zika virus.
Vietnam is currently free of Zika virus cases, but preventative measures are ongoing to prevent possible outbreaks in the future, the Department of Preventive Medicine said on April 26.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
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An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
During the peak months of July and August 2025, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) needs at least 90,000 units of blood to supply 180 hospitals in the northern region. However, despite continuous efforts, the reserve blood is still short of 30,000 units.
The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
Currently, cardiovascular specialists from the 108 Military Central Hospital are working alongside a team of Prof.Dr. Jan D. Schmitto, Deputy Director of MHH’s Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery on clinical trials for MCS devices, implanted in heart failure patients either as a bridge to transplantation or as permanent treatment.
The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health swiftly launched a telemedicine programme, connecting more than 1,000 medical establishments nationwide. The model, which remains in operation, has benefited tens of thousands of patients, including foreign nationals.
After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
Mosquito Aedes Aegypti can transmit several tropical fevers, including diseases caused by Zika virus.(Source: VNA)
