Strengthening the implementation of prevention of influenza A/H7N9 pandemic

Vietnam has completely mastered testing capacity, equipment, and human resources to detect the first cases early.

On the morning of April 23, the National Steering Committee for Human Influenza Prevention met to discuss measures to continue preventing the A/H7N9 flu epidemic.

At the meeting, the representative of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health said that the A/H7N9 flu situation in China is very complicated. To date, there have been 102 cases of A/H7N9 flu infection, of which 21 have died.

Strengthening community surveillance through the national influenza surveillance system (Illustration photo)

In Vietnam, there have been no recorded cases of influenza A/H7N9 in humans or poultry. However, the risk of influenza A/H7N9 epidemic is high. The Ministry of Health has strengthened surveillance at border gates, checking incoming passengers with remote temperature measuring devices to detect suspected cases, promptly identify and isolate them for treatment. At the same time, community surveillance has been strengthened through the national influenza surveillance system.

At the meeting, the representative of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology affirmed: Vietnam has completely mastered the testing capacity, equipment, as well as human resources to detect the first cases early. Professor, Doctor Trinh Quan Huan, senior expert of the Ministry of Health, said: there needs to be a combination between the surveillance system and the treatment system to detect early and prevent the first cases immediately: “H7N9 has the same contagious properties as H5N1 but the pathogenicity and toxicity are much milder. However, why does it cause so many deaths? Is there any change, the World Health Organization has not yet found the cause. Therefore, the combination between the institutes related to the surveillance system and the treatment system needs to be strengthened. In particular, cases in hospital must be detected early. The earlier the surveillance, the earlier the detection, the first cases can be prevented immediately”, said Professor, Doctor Trinh Dinh Huan.

Faced with the complicated developments of the A/H7N9 flu epidemic, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long suggested that in the coming time, functional agencies need to continue to implement border medical quarantine work; strengthen monitoring of cases of severe pneumonia suspected to be caused by the virus at medical facilities and in the community; strengthen inter-sectoral coordination to closely monitor the epidemic situation and the circulation of the A/H7N9 flu virus; thoroughly handle the outbreak and implement activities to prevent the disease from spreading to humans./.

According to (VOV) - HV