Patients with symptoms of A/H1N1 swine flu should receive treatment at hospitals and be segregated to prevent the spread of the virus (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Provinces in the MekongDelta are taking measures to prevent the spread of swineflu A/H1N1 in the region.
The rainy season is an ideal environmentfor many seasonal diseases and puts the region under high risk of a swine flu outbreak.
Since the beginning of the year, the Mekong Delta hasrecorded four deaths from swine flu, including one in Vinh Long province, onein Ca Mau province and two in Ben Tre province. Many swine flu cases have alsobeen recorded in Hau Giang province.
Phan Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of Hau Giang province’sDepartment of Health, said in April it had launched a campaign to prevent andcontrol A/H1N1 flu, providing treatment guidance to locals. Localities report weekly to the department andthe province’s steering board for epidemic prevention.
Meanwhile, Vinh Long province’ health sector hasworked with authorities in Tam Binh district to check the temperaturesof relatives and medical staff who have hadcontact with a woman who died from swine flu.
The situation is stable, but the province isencouraging people to get flu vaccinations, said Nguyen Cong Tuan, Deputy Directorof Vinh Long province’ Department of Health.
After the first A/H1N1 case, Can Tho city’sHealth Department sent information about preventive measures to private medicalfacilities and public hospitals in the province.
Surveillance has been enhanced to detectany suspected case of influenza A/H1N1 at health care facilities orcommunity-based care. Hospitals and clinics have prepared enough vehicles,medical equipment and medicine to tackle any outbreak.
Deputy Director of Can Tho city’s Department ofHealth, Nguyen Trung Nghia, said that swine flu A/H1N1 usually occurred withearly symptoms such as high fever, coughing, headaches and muscle pains.Most infected people can recover in a week without special treatment.
However, it can become severe inpeople over 65 years old, children under five, pregnant women andpeople suffering chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure,obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
He recommends that people should be vaccinatedand go to hospitals or medical facilities if they show signs of swine flu.
The influenza A/H1N1 virus can survive for 24–48hours on the surface of tables, chairs, cabinets and handrails, eightto 12 hours on clothing items, and around five minutes on the palm of the hand.
It can also survive four days in bodies ofwater at temperatures of 22 Celsius degrees and live up to 30days at temperature of zero Celsius degrees. Thus, swimming pools at hotels could be a site for thevirus to develop, especially in the rainy season.
The disease iseasily transmitted from person to person throughrespiration spread from sneezing or coughing, or through directcontact with objects containing the virus.
It has similar symptoms to seasonal flu and canbe diagnosed by collecting nasal and throat fluids for testing.
Doctors recommend that people pay attention to personal hygiene; clean up theirenvironment around houses, classrooms and workplaces; avoid direct contact withA/H1N1 patients or people suspected of being infected; and do not use drugswithout permission.-VNS/VNA
The rainy season is an ideal environmentfor many seasonal diseases and puts the region under high risk of a swine flu outbreak.
Since the beginning of the year, the Mekong Delta hasrecorded four deaths from swine flu, including one in Vinh Long province, onein Ca Mau province and two in Ben Tre province. Many swine flu cases have alsobeen recorded in Hau Giang province.
Phan Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of Hau Giang province’sDepartment of Health, said in April it had launched a campaign to prevent andcontrol A/H1N1 flu, providing treatment guidance to locals. Localities report weekly to the department andthe province’s steering board for epidemic prevention.
Meanwhile, Vinh Long province’ health sector hasworked with authorities in Tam Binh district to check the temperaturesof relatives and medical staff who have hadcontact with a woman who died from swine flu.
The situation is stable, but the province isencouraging people to get flu vaccinations, said Nguyen Cong Tuan, Deputy Directorof Vinh Long province’ Department of Health.
After the first A/H1N1 case, Can Tho city’sHealth Department sent information about preventive measures to private medicalfacilities and public hospitals in the province.
Surveillance has been enhanced to detectany suspected case of influenza A/H1N1 at health care facilities orcommunity-based care. Hospitals and clinics have prepared enough vehicles,medical equipment and medicine to tackle any outbreak.
Deputy Director of Can Tho city’s Department ofHealth, Nguyen Trung Nghia, said that swine flu A/H1N1 usually occurred withearly symptoms such as high fever, coughing, headaches and muscle pains.Most infected people can recover in a week without special treatment.
However, it can become severe inpeople over 65 years old, children under five, pregnant women andpeople suffering chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure,obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
He recommends that people should be vaccinatedand go to hospitals or medical facilities if they show signs of swine flu.
The influenza A/H1N1 virus can survive for 24–48hours on the surface of tables, chairs, cabinets and handrails, eightto 12 hours on clothing items, and around five minutes on the palm of the hand.
It can also survive four days in bodies ofwater at temperatures of 22 Celsius degrees and live up to 30days at temperature of zero Celsius degrees. Thus, swimming pools at hotels could be a site for thevirus to develop, especially in the rainy season.
The disease iseasily transmitted from person to person throughrespiration spread from sneezing or coughing, or through directcontact with objects containing the virus.
It has similar symptoms to seasonal flu and canbe diagnosed by collecting nasal and throat fluids for testing.
Doctors recommend that people pay attention to personal hygiene; clean up theirenvironment around houses, classrooms and workplaces; avoid direct contact withA/H1N1 patients or people suspected of being infected; and do not use drugswithout permission.-VNS/VNA
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