ABSTRACT - Vietnam's success in stopping spread of SARS described; Aileen Plant, who led fight against SARS in Vietnam for World Health Organization, cites government's decision after key Mar 9 meeting with WHO to fight outbreak openly and aggressively; says most of government was mobilized to deal with infection and its consequences; disease entered nation through one infected person, American Johnny Chen, who came to Hanoi in Feb after Hong Kong stay; Vietnam moved quickly to confine outbreak to Hanoi French Hospital, where he was treated before being evacuated to Hong Kong, where he died; Vietnam closed hospital to new patients and visitors Mar 11; most of its staff remained inside, some falling ill, others watching colleagues sicken and die; Nguyen Thi Men, nurse who was only survivor of six most critically ill patients, describes recovery, interview; photo (M) Doctors and nurses clustered around the bed of Nguyen Thi Men when she emerged in mid-March from a nine-day coma, urging her to stay alive.

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