Severity soars among influenza A cases in Hanoi
VOV.VN - The capital city of Hanoi has witnessed a rise in influenza A cases over the past two weeks, with an increasing number of patients relying on mechanical ventilation.
The National Hospital of Tropical Diseases says it is currently performing treatment for over 10 severe flu cases suffering from underlying health conditions. Of them, a 66-year-old patient who also has type 2 diabetes, was infected with both influenza A and COVID-19. He has since been put on a breathing machine due to severe respiratory failure.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics has also received 100 to 150 children each day for examination and treatment after showing signs of the flu. Particularly, 15% of the infected children have been hospitalised in need of medical care.
Some severe cases have also suffered from lung damage after a few days of virus infection.
According to the Ministry of Health, seasonal flu is primarily caused by influenza viruses, mostly A/H1N1, A/H3N3, and Influenza B.
The ministry also affirms there are no records of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses causing infection in humans, such as A/H5N1, A/H5N6, and A/H7N9.
Dr. Vo Ngoc Long, deputy director of the Sub-department for Infectious Disease Control, points out, weather changes have led to an increase in the number of people catching seasonal influenza.
"Young patients suffering from influenza A usually only show mild symptoms. However, for the elderly, people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as children under five, the disease poses a higher rate of severe complications and death,” he explains.
Dr. Long suggests that people should wear face masks, regularly clean their hands with a sanitiser, restrict physical contact with flu sufferers, and visit a doctor if they show any flu symptoms.
