Vietnam closely monitors disease situation amid global COVID-19 reemergence
The Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine on January 16 asked localities nationwide to keep a close watch on the disease situation in the face of complex developments of infectious diseases, especially respiratory ones, around the world.
A cartridge showing a positive test result for COVID-19. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministryof Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine on January 16 asked localities nationwideto keep a close watch on the disease situation in the face of complexdevelopments of infectious diseases, especially respiratory ones, around theworld.
In December 2023, nearly 10,000deaths from COVID-19 were reported worldwide while the number of hospitalised casessurged 42% from the previous month. New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus havecontinuously changed, and sub-variant JN.1 is spreading rapidly around theglobe, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The US, China, and some Europeancountries have recorded the re-emergence of COVID-19 infections as well as the transmissionof other respiratory illnesses like seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus.
In Vietnam, the northern region isnow in the transitional period between winter and spring, when cold and dry weatheris alternated with wet weather, triggering infectious diseases, especiallyrespiratory ones. Meanwhile, the numbers of cases suffering from otherinfectious diseases like dengue fever, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and someothers which have already had vaccines have also been on the rise in manyplaces, the department pointed out.
Itwarned that the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays and spring festive season,when trading and travel demand surges, along with abnormal weather changes arefavourable conditions for diseases to spread, particularly among children withweak immunity and the elderly with comorbidities, who are more vulnerable toinfectious diseases.
Giventhis, the Department of Preventive Medicine asked provincial-level departmentsof health to propose their provinces and cities’ administrations soon issueplans on infectious disease prevention and control for 2024. They were alsotold to engage all local sectors and socio-political organisations in the work,especially during Tet.
Inparticular, local health departments were demanded to order grassroots healthunits like disease control centres and preventive medicine bodies keep a closewatch on the disease situation and the increase in infections of respiratory illnessesand severe cases of viral pneumonia.
They need to maintain constantmonitoring to detect infections early so as to make timely response, controltransmission, and minimise severe cases and deaths, the Department ofPreventive Medicine added, requesting the expanded programme on immunisation beproperly maintained./.
COVID-19 is no longer an infectious disease in Group A but downgraded to Group B from October 20, according to a decision issued on October 19 by the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received in Hanoi on November 14 French virologist Prof. Francoise Barre-Sinoussi during which he asked France in general, the Paris-based Pasteur Institute and the Professor, to encourage scientists to continue conducting research, especially those on emerging infectious diseases in Vietnam.
The Ministry of Health is working hard to ensure vaccine supply for the national expanded programme on immunisation (EPI), heard a regular Government press conference in Hanoi on December 6.
Thailand is witnessing a rising number of COVID-19 cases after the New Year holiday, with those hospitalised up 7% on last week, according to an epidemiologist at Chulalongkorn University.
Despite storm-related disruptions and flight delays, the organs were successfully transported via a combination of air and ground travel. All patients are currently stable and recovering well.
The patient, Tieu Viet But, born in 1970 and residing in Binh Tri commune, Binh Son district, the central province of Quang Ngai, was working aboard fishing vessel Qng – 95657TS when the incident occurred at 7:00 am.
All drugs entering hospitals must have a clear origin, so counterfeit drugs are only in the market, not in hospital, affirmed Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.
To achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2045, Vietnam is prioritising the integration of AI and digital tools into the training of future doctors, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Nhung, Dean of Medicine at University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University (VNU) Hanoi.
Health experts called for collective disease prevention and integrated solutions to achieve zero dengue deaths in the country at an online talk show on June 14.
The PM called for closer, broader, and more effective cooperation with Vietnamese partners, guided by the principles of mutual benefit, joint efforts, shared outcomes, and common development, including promoting stronger public-private partnerships and collaboration with businesses.
Renowned for its expertise in complex surgeries, the hospital has attracted foreign patients seeking treatment for conditions such as kidney and urinary tract stones, urological and gastrointestinal cancers, and male reproductive disorders. Most procedures are performed using advanced techniques, including laparoscopy and robotic surgery. T
Leading Vietnamese companies specialising in respiratory and dermatological treatments, traditional medicine, immune support supplements, and functional foods will have an opportunity to connect with international distributors and secure export deals.
The project aimed to enable early detection and reduce the risk of dangerous complications, targeting patients with chronic diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and metabolic disorders.
A 2023 report by the Vietnam Health Economics Association estimated that the total cost of tobacco-related healthcare and economic losses reached 108 trillion VND (4.14 billion USD) annually – equivalent to 1.14% of GDP and five times higher than the budget revenue generated by the tobacco industry.
All eligible patients will receive surgical interventions and post-operative care in accordance with Vietnamese medical standards and global care protocols.
Medical screenings and surgical interventions for children with disabilities are being carried out at health centers across Dien Bien. So far this year, 242 children have been identified for diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and the provision of assistive devices.
The Red Journey has become the country’s largest and most effective blood donation campaign, leaving a strong impression on the national voluntary blood donation movement.
This case marks the ninth fetal cardiac intervention conducted in HCM City, and it was considered the most technically demanding to date due to the fetus’s extremely early gestational age and the severity of the condition as diagnosed with aortic atresia.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place one day after the VNVC Vaccine JS Company and Sanofi Group exchanged cooperation documents on vaccine production technology transfer under the witness of State President Luong Cuong and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Vietnam’s traditional medicine took centre stage at the International Congress Biopharm Nonclinical Development, BioNCiD 2025, held on May 25-26 in the Cuban city of Varadero, amid growing global interest in sustainable healthcare solutions.
Under the agreement, VNVC and Sanofi will gradually implement technology transfers to enable domestic production of several key Sanofi vaccines that are widely used in Vietnam. In addition, Sanofi will support VNVC in training human resources and quality management in vaccine research and manufacturing.
Despite the ongoing global circulation and unpredictable developments of SARS-CoV-2, the World Health Organisation (WHO) hasn’t issued new warnings about COVID-19, said the Ministry of Health.
A cartridge showing a positive test result for COVID-19. (Photo: VNA) 
