The health ministry has called for increased vigilance and response against the spread of the Ebola disease in the country

The warning comes in the wake of the rise in the number of Ebola infections and deaths in the world, especially in West African countries.

"The preparation activities for responding to the Ebola virus challenge should be increased not only in medical units, but also in all related ministries and sectors nationwide," said deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Newly Emerging Diseases Prevention this morning.

Long said that the country will establish four national task force teams in the north, south, central and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) regions, and many others at provincial and districts levels, based on local disease prevention teams, with an aim to provide quick responses to the dangerous virus.

The health sector also asked provinces, cites, ministries and sectors to review and strengthen activities needed for preventing the spread of an Ebola infection. Better medical supervision has been asked for at international border gates, while testing units are also required.

Medical units have been asked to train their staff continuously, update the diagnosis, surveillance and treatment processes and organise small-scale exercises on Ebola prevention. At the moment, the country has four medical units that meet the WHO's requirements for Ebola virus testing.

Praising the efforts taken by Viet Nam to prevent the Ebola virus infection, representatives of the World Health Organisation and CDC committed to continue supporting the country in the fight against Ebola.

The WHO representative said that exercises on Ebola prevention should be taken from the central to the local levels as infections may enter homes or hotels if an infected person enters the country.

The health ministry reported that no Ebola infections have been detected in Viet Nam so far.

However, Viet Nam still faces a high risk as the virus can enter the country through visitors coming from Ebola-affected areas.