A passenger has her body temperature checked at Lạng Sơn Province’s Hữu Nghị Border Gate. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's health ministry has urged local health authorities to tighten management at border gates in response to China’s Wuhan pneumonia outbreak.

On Monday, the health ministry directed provinces and cities to monitor the health status of all passengers travelling to and from Wuhan City, China with thermal scanners, when cross-border trading activities and visits heighten when the Lunar New Year festival draws near.

They are also asked to prepare all necessary facilities, instruments, chemicals and medicines and human resources to deploy preventative measures in a timely manner in all possible scenarios, even during the holidays.

According to the General Department of Preventative Medicine, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and China’s National Health Commission are launching a collaborative investigation into infections and have not recommended any travel restrictions to and from Wuhan.

The Vietnamese health ministry has also cooperated with WHO to keep updated on the developments of the outbreaks in China.

By Saturday, 44 people in Wuhan City have been diagnosed with viral pneumonia, the China Daily reported.

Eleven of them were in severe condition, while the rest were declared stable. According to the Wuhan Health Commission, symptoms include fever and breathing problems.

Local authorities are conducting examinations on the virus pathogens in search of the causes.

Seasonal flu, avian influenza, influenza A and other common respiratory diseases have been excluded. — VNS