The Vietnam Drug Administration on May 24 ordered health departments and drug retailers and producers around the country to mobilize enough medicines against acute diarrhea and the A/H1N1 influenza as well as disinfectants, a health official said.

The head of the regulator, Truong Quoc Cuong, said drug companies and importers should be able to provide enough drugs for preventing and treating the outbreak.

The Administration would work round the clock to complete the paperwork required by importing companies, he promised.

By 23 May, 43 countries reported 12 022 cases of influenza A (H1N1), including 86 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The outbreaks have increased sharply in Asia in countries like Japan, China, and Korea.

The Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment said no case has yet been reported in Vietnam.