The decision noted that the epidemic began on January 23 with the first two confirmed infection cases to be a pair of Chinese father and son. The scope of the epidemic was identified in three provinces of Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa and Vinh Phuc.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on February 1 signed Decision No.173.QD-TTg, declaring the acute respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus (nCoV) an epidemic in Vietnam.

The total number of nCoV infections in Vietnam is six, including two Chinese, three Vietnamese returning from China’s Wuhan city, and a receptionist at a hotel in Khanh Hoa province.

nCoV is classified as a Class A contagious disease, a group of extremely dangerous infectious diseases that can transmit very rapidly and spread widely with high mortality rates, including the likes of influenza A-H5N1, SARs, Ebola or smallpox.

The same day, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam announced it has temporarily revoked all permits granted for flights between Vietnam and China from 13:00 until further notice.

Earlier, the World Health Organisation declared the nCoV epidemic in China as a global health emergency of international concern.

Vietnam, France partner in producing vaccines against livestock diseases

Vietnamese agencies have joined hands with a French partner on the research and production of vaccines against the African swine fever (ASF) and foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Over 4.5 billion VND raised to support children with heart diseases

More than 4.5 billion VND (193,826 USD) was raised for poor children with heart diseases through a text message campaign carried out by the Vietnam Television (VTV) and the National Humanitarian Portal 1400 from November 1 to December 30, 2019.

Nearly 5,200 children with congenital heart diseases receive free surgery

Over the past eleven years, free surgeries have been provided to nearly 5,200 children under the age of 16 who are suffering from congenital heart diseases and are living in difficult circumstances under the ‘Hearts for you’ programme.

Prospects from disease-free orange intensive farming model

(BGO) - In 2017, the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute (the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences) was approved to deploy the project "Building the model of intensive farming of V2 and CS1 disease-free orange varieties in Lang Giang district” with a total budget of 2.3 billion VND (99,320 USD). After nearly 3 years of implementation, the project has achieved good results.

10,000 runners to race for children with heart diseases

About 10,000 people are expected to take part in the 2019 Run for the Heart race, an annual event to support disadvantaged children with congenital heart diseases.

Source: VNA