[health-vn] Vietnam sets up barriers against swine influenza

[Vern Weitzel]

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/reports/2009/04/844479/

Vietnam sets up barriers against swine influenza
21:45' 27/04/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has not discovered any case of swine flu but the 
country has worked out measures to cope with this fatal virus. Officials from 
the Preventive Health Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam 
gathered at an urgent meeting on the swine flu situation on April 27.


A temperature measurer at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Swine flu more dangerous than SARS

At today’s meeting, health experts confirmed that cooked pork and pork products 
are safe. Swine flu is a respiratory disease, mutating in pigs and then passing 
on to people.

The virus is a new type, which is a combination of North American, Asian and 
European strains, bird flu and human flu virus. Though it is named swine flu, 
the flu is transmitted from humans to humans. The WHO will inform the Vietnamese 
Preventive Health Agency of any new development related to the disease.

According to the WHO’s warning, the swine influenza that broke out in Mexico and 
the US was transmitted from pigs to some humans, and then from humans to humans. 
This type of virus can spread very quickly, even more quickly than the Severe 
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Scientists still don’t know whether its 
toxicity changes or not.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human 
flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and 
fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine 
flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths 
have been reported with swine flu infections in people. Like seasonal flu, swine 
flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

Vietnam must not sit idle

The Vietnamese Health Ministry has stated that Vietnam has not detected any case 
of swine influenza. However, the Chief of the Preventive Health Agency, Dr. 
Nguyen Huy Nga, said that this virus could penetrate into Vietnam because there 
are people entering Vietnam from flu-affected areas.

“We have asked hospitals to strictly keep track of patients who have flu 
symptoms, particularly those who have travelled to Mexico or the US,” Nga said.

He said the Central Epidemic Prevention Institute and the HCM City Pasteur 
Institute can do quick tests for swine flu, but the current strain is a new one 
so Vietnam will have to send samples abroad.

“According to the WHO, treating swine influenza by Tamiflu and Relenza is still 
effective. The WHO is doing research and hasn’t yet introduced a new remedy,” 
Nga said.

The Vietnamese Health Ministry has asked related agencies at central and 
grassroots levels to take immediate actions to prevent an outbreak of the disease.

Accordingly, local health agencies have to keep watch to discover people who 
have symptoms of fever or pneumonia or breathing problems early. People who 
enter Vietnam from Mexico and the US must pass a temperature check.

The ministry told hospitals to prepare medicines and equipment for use in case 
the disease breaks out in Vietnam.

To protect themselves, people are advised to wash their hands often with soap 
and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. People who come down with 
influenza should stay home from work or school and go to the nearest clinic.

Hundreds of passengers have temperature tests at Tan Son Nhat Airport

The HCM City Department of Health and the International Health Quarantine Centre 
have set up a checkpoint at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, HCM City. 
Hundreds of passengers had temperature tests at this checkpoint on April 27.

This checkpoint is equipped with three temperature measures and 200 sets of 
safety outfits. Each temperature measurer is operated by two experts from the 
International Health Quarantine Centre and one doctor.

The Director of the HCM City Health Department, Nguyen Van Chau, said that any 
passenger whose body temperature is more than 37oC will be isolated for a health 
check.

Doctor Phan Van Nghiem from the HCM City Department of Health said that health 
experts will also be sent to some sea ports.

LH-XL-TH