The People's Committee of Nghe An province has directed the strengthening of measures to prevent and control seasonal influenza outbreaks.

The document states: According to the Department of Health's report, the seasonal influenza situation in the province has been on the rise since October 2025. In particular, an outbreak of influenza A has been recorded at a school (Con Cuong commune) with a large number of students infected. Given the favorable conditions for influenza virus development during the transition from winter to spring, the risk of a widespread outbreak is very high if timely control measures are not implemented.

To proactively prevent and control seasonal influenza in the province, the Provincial People's Committee requests the Department of Health to strengthen close monitoring of the epidemic situation in the community and schools (especially in mountainous districts); direct early detection, containment, and thorough handling of outbreaks to prevent the disease from spreading widely; and proactively coordinate with the Institutes of Epidemiology and Hygiene to collect samples for testing from key cases to identify influenza virus strains and detect dangerous variants early.

The Department of Health effectively organizes patient triage, admission, emergency care, and treatment; strictly implements infection control measures to prevent cross-infection within healthcare facilities; minimizes the number of severe cases and deaths; reviews and ensures sufficient personnel, funding, medicines, supplies, and equipment for epidemic prevention and control, as well as admission, emergency care, and treatment; and prepares for any new outbreaks.

Directing local health facilities to coordinate with the People's Committees of communes and wards to proactively monitor the seasonal influenza situation closely, implement prevention and control measures according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health; monitor and assess the disease situation to promptly propose effective prevention and control measures; advise the Provincial People's Committee to organize inspections of disease prevention and control work at agencies, units, and localities in the province when necessary.

The Provincial People's Committee requests the Department of Education and Training to direct educational institutions to strengthen hygiene in classrooms, ensure proper ventilation, disinfect desks, chairs, and learning materials; develop safe and flexible disease prevention and control plans at educational institutions in accordance with the guidelines of the Department of Health and the Ministry of Health; and strengthen the implementation of propaganda, education, and awareness-raising to proactively implement disease prevention and control measures.

Educational institutions are required to manage and monitor the health of students, staff, teachers, and employees to detect early cases of illness, immediately notify the nearest health agency for examination, treatment, and disease control, and resolutely prevent the spread of disease within schools; direct educational institutions to continue reviewing and closely coordinating with the health sector to disseminate information about the effectiveness of vaccines in disease prevention; strengthen communication and encourage parents to proactively have their children vaccinated voluntarily at health facilities.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is stepping up communication through various forms about measures to prevent seasonal influenza (wearing masks, washing hands, nasal and throat hygiene, and limiting large gatherings, etc.); focusing on communicating the benefits of influenza vaccination: Educating people to understand that this is the most effective preventive measure, encouraging people to proactively get vaccinated voluntarily at medical facilities; providing timely and accurate information about the epidemic situation, avoiding causing public panic but also preventing people from being complacent.

The People's Committees of communes and wards should proactively monitor and closely assess the level of risk of disease outbreaks in their areas to promptly direct and implement appropriate disease prevention and control measures; prepare to respond to potential disease outbreak situations, ensuring safe and flexible adaptation and effective disease control; mobilize forces from mass organizations and social organizations to participate in disease prevention and control; and support local health agencies in carrying out communication, surveillance, and early detection work, contributing to protecting, caring for, and improving the health of the people.

Strengthen the dissemination of information on seasonal influenza prevention measures through various forms to raise awareness and proactively implement disease prevention and control measures; seek medical attention when suspected symptoms appear and actively participate in disease prevention and control activities in the community; proactively review facilities, equipment, etc., and plans for implementing prevention and control measures when an outbreak occurs in the area.

The Department of Finance ensures timely funding for health units to implement disease prevention and control activities in accordance with current budget decentralization regulations, preventing the seasonal influenza outbreak from spreading and prolonging. Provincial departments and agencies continue to thoroughly understand and strictly implement directives on infectious disease prevention and control; uphold discipline, order, and the responsibility of leaders; effectively carry out disease prevention and hygiene work in agencies and units; and encourage officials, civil servants, and employees to set a good example in implementing disease prevention measures and getting vaccinated against influenza.