An active surveillance system has been set up at several border gates and airports by the Quang Ninh International Health Quarantine Center as a way of preventing the spread of severe pneumonia.

The move comes following several reports coming out of Wuhan city in Hubei province, China, of outbreaks of severe pneumonia. 

At present, Vietnam has yet to record a single case of acute pneumonia.

Despite this, the Quang Ninh International Health Quarantine Center has tightened the implementation of medical quarantines for people, vehicles, and goods entering the country from areas that have reported outbreaks of the disease, especially places that have reported cases of pneumonia such as China.

Hoang Van Luong, Director of Quang Ninh International Health Quarantine Centre said the centre has strengthened inspection and supervision activities by monitoring the body temperature of passengers that pass through the Mong Cai international gate and Van Don airport.

This method promptly detects the signs of fever, with those suspected of carrying the disease put into isolated rooms and screening clinics for further inspection.

The centre has also boosted its supervision over people arriving from areas affected by the epidemic, while simultaneously co-ordinating with travel agencies as a means of knowing the list of visitors entering the nation from China and other affected areas.