The Hai Phong International Health Quarantine Center moved quickly to admit two individuals who were showing signs of the coronavirus infection on January 30.

Both cases have now been isolated and are being strictly monitored. According to a report released by the Hai Phong Department of Health, the Hai Phong International Health Quarantine Center received information from the Airport Authority regarding two sick passengers traveling on a Vietjet flight coded VJ286 from Ho Chi Minh City to Hai Phong. 

In a bid to combat the potential spread of the epidemic, the centre has sent doctors to conduct medical examinations and epidemiological treatment for both of the cases.

The incident involves 21-year-old Vu Thi Thanh Tuyen and her son Vuong Trung Bao who had recently returned from China. The pair had travelled through the Mong Cai border gate to Nanning by car before then heading from to Shandong by plane where they stayed at accommodation alongside Chinese nationals.

After extending their visas, Tuyen and her son continued their journey, flying from Shandong to Guangzhou and then finally from Guangzhou to Ho Chi Minh City on January 18.

The first symptoms of the virus were present on the evening of January 29 when Tuyen and her son were waiting to board flight VJ 286 to Hai Phong. She displayed signs of a mild fever, an itchy throat, and a shortness of breath, while her son was also suffering from a mile fever, tiredness, and purple lips.

Currently, Tuyen and her son remain in a stable condition while the Hai Phong Preventive Medicine Center has sent a test sample to the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology where they will have  preliminary results regarding seven known strains of the corona virus within the next 24 hours.

A new corona virus strain will be diagnosed and tested within three days of receiving the negative result.

The quarantining of the passengers at Cat Bi airport has seen the International Medical Quarantine Center move to disinfect all domestic and international terminal areas along with the rooms of both of the suspected patients.

Moreover, the International Health Quarantine Center has also requested that Vietjet Air provide a list of people who were sat on the same row and close to the two suspected cases.