Nation at high risk for rapid spread of H1N1 flu

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Health yesterday, July 21, warned of the high risk that the A/ H1N1 flu could spread, especially during the upcoming winter weather which would provide favourable conditions for the virus to develop.

"The health sector has found 61 teachers and pupils from the Ngo Thoi Nhiem Private High School in District 9, HCM City, to be positive for the virus. The number of patients will rise high in the coming time". (Photo: VNN)

A flu report to the Prime Minister said the A/H1N1 flu virus had spread quickly into the community. It particularly noted two flu clusters that were recently found in Viet Kieu hamlet, Xuan Hiep commune, Xuan Loc district, Dong Nai province and at the Ngo Thoi Nhiem Private High School in District 9, HCM City.

As of yesterday, 84 of the country's A/H1N1 positive patients were relatives of overseas Vietnamese patients who had returned to Dong Nai from the US.

"The health sector has found 61 teachers and pupils from the Ngo Thoi Nhiem Private High School in District 9, HCM City, to be positive for the virus. The number of patients will rise high in the coming time," said Director of the Preventive Medicine and Environment under the Ministry of Health (MoH) Nguyen Huy Nga.

"Signs have shown that the A/H1N1 flu pandemic has spread into the community," said Nga.

Viet Nam has begun to see signs of A/H1N1 flu in the community more than 50 days after the first reported case. So far, all patients have been isolated, closely monitored and effectively treated for quick recovery.

Health experts have warned that when the A/H1N1 flu spreads widely into the community, Viet Nam will face challenges in its control. An increasing number of patients and even fatalities are unavoidable. In particular, people suffering from chronic diseases, weak immune systems, the elderly, children, pregnant women and obese people are vulnerable to the flu.

At present, the health sector is focusing its activities on closely monitoring patients, isolating suspected cases and treating positive patients in a timely manner. The health sector has made efforts to prepare sufficient drugs, hospital beds, medical facilities and isolation areas for a pandemic, according to Nga.

The MoH yesterday confirmed 35 new A/H1N1 flu cases, bring the nation's total to 443 cases and no fatalities since the onset of the threat. Of all cases, 328 have been discharged from hospitals and the rest are stable, resting in isolation and undergoing treatment.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported a total of 139,556 A/H1N1 flu cases, with 781 fatalities, in 139 countries and territories worldwide.

Bird flu, too

At a workshop held yesterday, representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also called for raised awareness about avian influenza in humans among civil servants, workers and their managers.

"One of our challenges is how to help workers and managers understand methods for preventing avian influenza themselves and to actively combat the disease," said Director of MoLISA's Labour Safety Department Doan Minh Hoa.

At the event, participants agreed that so far avian influenza prevention at the work place had focused primarily on communication activities rather than specific measures or comprehensive strategies to curb the disease.

"We should set up policies for avian influenza prevention activities, and insurance policies and wages for workers who are unable to go to work because of the pandemic," added Hoa.

Avian influenza prevention for workers will be integrated into MOLISA's labour safety programme.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News