It urged people to regularly wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer, ensure food safety and a healthy lifestyle, stay physically active, and self-isolate when any infection is suspected.

Health experts say Vietnam has not yet reported any monkeypox cases, but the risk of the disease entering Vietnam is high. Dr. Do Hong Hien, a WHO epidemiologist in Vietnam, says Vietnam needs to screen, prevent infections, and protect health workers who are at high risk. Diagnostic, isolation, and case management measures must be prepared so that when there is a case, its spread and mortality will be minimized, Hien said.

The WHO on Saturday activated its highest alert level for the growing monkeypox outbreak, declaring the virus a public health emergency of international concern, after 16,000 cases were recorded in 74 countries. There have been 5 deaths.