69-year-old Tran Van Chac, from Tran Van Thoi town in thedistrict of the same name, was brought to the medical centre on June 28 withsymptoms of a high temperature and a cough.
He was then transferred to the provincial General Hospitaland treated with Tamiflu. However, on June 30, he died of A/H1N1 as tested byHo Chi Minh City-based Pasteur Institute.
The local health sector has sprayed chemicals over the area aroundChac’s residence in an attempt to isolate the disease and asked his relativesto closely monitor their health conditions.
The A/H1N1 virus causes a perniciousrespiratory infection. Its symptoms are similar to seasonal flu, that of a fever,cold, cough, and headache. The virus then spreads to the respiratory system,causing other complicated symptoms such as wheezing and phlegm. Vulnerablegroups include the elderly, children, pregnant women, diabetics, cancerpatients, HIV-positive people, and those with pre-existing respiratory issues.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health has advisedthe public to upgrade levels of personal hygiene, emphasising the basics ofcovering their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, washing one’s handswith soap, and maintaining clean rooms and frequented spaces.
If members of the public have symptoms such as afever, cold, or cough, they are asked to wear face masks, go to their local healthclinics, and avoid using self-prescribed drugs without a doctor’s instructions.
Vietnam has previously experienced an H1N1pandemic in 2009, with over 9,000 cases of people contracting the disease andnearly twenty deaths within four months, according to the ministry. -VNA