Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Muongpak. (Photo: KPL)Vientiane (VNA) –Health officials and medical staff in Laos have been requested to implementnewly introduced screening and quarantine measures at all border crossings to prevent the spread of the acute respiratory disease cause by novel coronavirus, called nCoV,originated from China.
Screening and monitoring must bemore rigorous, especially the health of all passengers coming to and from China, Lao Deputy Minister of Health PhouthoneMuongpak told the media during a visit to inspect the Wattay InternationalAirport last week.
If anyone is found unwell with coughing, fever or cold, he orshe will be interviewed by health staff. If the person is suspected to carrythe virus, he or she will be sent to hospital for further examination and treatment, and willlater be repatriated, Muongpak said.
As Laos shares a border with fivecountries including China, there is a high risk for virus tospread in Laos, he continued, adding that the ministry is preparing for the worst-case scenario withparticular vigilancein place at provinces which share borders with China and other neighbouringcountries.
The ministry has instructed allChinese who owned or operated companies in Laos to carry out checks of theirChinese employees.
No infectionhas been reported in Laos so far. About 80 Lao students who returned from China for theLunar New Year holiday had colds and went to hospital for checks, but all tested negative for thevirus.
National flag carrier LaoAirlines has grounded all flights to five Chinese cities after Beijing imposedtravel bans to contain the coronavirus outbreak last month. Next week, theairline will start reducing flights to China./.
VNA
