As the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to monitor and update the Ebola situation in several African countries, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health and the Department of Medical Services Administration have instructed healthcare facilities nationwide to proactively strengthen preparedness measures. At Bach Mai Hospital, comprehensive response plans have been activated, alongside a specialized training course on the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Ebola virus disease to enhance the readiness of healthcare workers.

Building a Proactive Shield Against Ebola

According to health experts, Vietnam has not recorded any Ebola cases to date. However, with the rapid growth of international travel and trade, the risk of imported cases remains a concern.

One of the greatest challenges is that the early symptoms of Ebola—such as fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea—can easily be mistaken for other common illnesses, including influenza, dengue fever, malaria, sepsis, or acute gastrointestinal infections.

The Board of Directors of Bach Mai Hospital has emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance without causing unnecessary alarm. The hospital’s primary objectives are early detection, timely isolation, proper management, and preventing hospital-acquired transmission.

Preparedness efforts extend beyond clinical treatment and include screening procedures, infection prevention and control, logistics, medical supplies, and public communication to ensure the safety of patients, healthcare workers, and the community.

All hospital departments have been instructed to review their Ebola preparedness plans, strengthen surveillance of suspected cases, and carefully assess epidemiological risk factors within the 21 days prior to symptom onset.

Ebola Is Dangerous but Controllable

Dr. Doan Thu Tra, Acting Director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine at Bach Mai Hospital, explained that Ebola has an incubation period ranging from 2 to 21 days. The virus is not contagious before symptoms develop; however, once symptoms appear, it can spread through blood and other bodily fluids.

“In the early stages, Ebola patients may only present with fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, or diarrhea. Without careful epidemiological assessment, cases can easily be missed during the initial screening process,” Dr. Tra noted.

She emphasized that healthcare workers should routinely inquire about travel history, exposure to affected regions, and other risk factors as soon as a patient is admitted.

“When it comes to Ebola, asking the right question can sometimes be more important than many tests performed later,” she said.

The First Two Minutes Can Determine Outbreak Prevention Success

Speaking at the training session, Nguyen Quoc Thai, MSc, Deputy Head of the General Infectious Diseases Department at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, highlighted the critical importance of the first two minutes at the screening area.

By asking the right questions about symptoms and epidemiological risk factors within the previous 21 days, healthcare workers can quickly identify potential risks, activate protective measures, and reduce the likelihood of transmission.

Experts also stressed that Ebola does not always present with hemorrhagic symptoms. Many patients initially experience only fever, headache, fatigue, or diarrhea.

They recommend following the “2–5–30 Rule”:

2 minutes to assess symptoms and epidemiological history.
5 minutes to implement temporary isolation.
30 minutes to activate the response system, infection control measures, and mandatory reporting procedures.

This timeframe is considered a critical “golden window” for preventing disease spread at the hospital entrance. Missing this opportunity could significantly increase the risk of exposure among healthcare workers and other patients.

Infection Control: The Most Critical Line of Defense

Dr. Truong Anh Thu, Head of the Infection Control Department at Bach Mai Hospital, emphasized that all suspected Ebola cases must be managed according to the principle of “Detect – Isolate – Notify.”

“Once a suspected case is identified, the patient must be separated from crowded areas immediately. Healthcare workers should use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and infection control protocols must be activated to prevent potential transmission,” Dr. Thu said.

Healthcare workers are also required to strictly comply with PPE procedures, waste management regulations, environmental disinfection protocols, and safe patient transportation practices to minimize the risk of hospital-acquired infections.

Protecting the Community Starts with Individual Responsibility

Experts agree that although Ebola is a highly dangerous infectious disease, it can be effectively controlled through early detection, prompt isolation, and strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures.

Drawing on global experiences in responding to high-risk infectious diseases, specialists at Bach Mai Hospital recommend that healthcare workers remember ten key principles:

Always assess epidemiological history within the previous 21 days.
Do not wait for hemorrhagic symptoms before considering Ebola.
Isolate first, test later.
Limit patient contact to essential personnel only.
Ensure PPE removal is supervised.
Treat blood, stool, vomit, and deceased bodies as high-risk sources of infection.
Do not send specimens through routine laboratory pathways.
Early supportive treatment saves lives.
Be aware that some Ebola strains, such as Sudan and Bundibugyo, still lack approved specific treatments.
Record, monitor, and review every exposure incident to improve response systems.
For the general public, the most important measures are to follow information from official sources, provide accurate epidemiological information when seeking medical care, and never conceal travel history or potential exposure risks.