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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 14, 2003

Vietnam Takes Strict Measures to Counter SARS

Vietnam has taken strict measures to counter the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) since it was first discovered in late February in a foreign businessman.


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Vietnam has taken strict measures to counter the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) since it was first discovered in late February in a foreign businessman.

To date, 68 people in Vietnam have contracted SARS, and the death toll from SARS rose to five after a doctor suffering the disease died in Hanoi last Saturday.

In an attempt to control the disease, the country has applied strict quarantine inspections at international border gates and airports to prevent the spread of the virus that causes SARS. Foreign travelers are required to fill out forms detailing their medical status. All travelers, particularly those coming from SARS-hit countries and regions, are subject to medical observation.

The Health Ministry has put its epidemic task force on the highest alert. And the task force will isolate and closely monitorpatients and at-risk people while educating the public about preventive measures. It suggested that people avoid gathering in public, and advised that they should wear masks and maintain high levels of personal hygiene.

The ministry has just issued a temporary guidance on diagnosing,treating and taking preventive measures against the disease and sent it to health clinics nationwide.

In order to fight the disease, the government has allocated 30 billion Vietnamese dong (VND) (nearly 2 million US dollars), of which 22 billion VND (1.4 million dollars) for purchasing medical equipment.

Meanwhile, it will also license the Vietnam-Russia Medical Center to produce surgical masks conforming to World Health Organization (WHO) standards for public use.

SARS has negatively affected the country's several local economic sectors. The number of foreign tourists to Vietnam has sharply decreased with the occupancy rate in hotels in March down to 40-50 percent compared to the rate of 95-98 percent a few months ago. It is expected to continue to sharply decrease in April.

So far, thousands of cancellations have been reported for flights between Vietnam and Japan, South Korea, China's Taiwan and Hong Kong. The number of air passengers decreased by nearly 30 percent in March. It is likely to affect business of airlines in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the labor export of the country has been also faced with a hard time. This year's labor export target is likely to drop 30 percent due to the disease.


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