VietNamNet Bridge – Preventive medicine centres around the country are encouraging people, especially pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases, to be vaccinated against influenza, as more cases have been recorded in recent weeks.


Doctors from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases examine and treat patients who have tested positive for A/H1N1. (Photo: VNS)
The vaccine protects against three strains of flu, A/H1N1, B and A/H3N2, according to Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.


According to the Preventive Medicine Department, 39 patients have tested positive for the A/H1N1 virus since October last year.


Some of these cases were in Dong Nai, Tien Giang, Long An, Khanh Hoa and Nam Dinh provinces, as well as in HCM City and Ha Noi.


The ministry's flu supervision system has received 52 positive tests, 30.8 per cent of which were infected with the A/H1N1 virus.


Health experts warned that pregnant women and those with chronic ailments are at the highest risk of having dangerous complications if they contract the A/H1N1 virus.


In the run-up to Tet Tan Mao (the Year of the Cat) holiday, the number of people entering and leaving Viet Nam via border gates, especially in northern provinces, has increased, leading to a high risk of contracting the flu.


Health quarantines at border gates should be strengthened, health experts said.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News