The Ministry asked them to raise public awareness of the disease and how to implement preventive measures in broadcasts and leaflets to prevent it from fanning out farther and causing fatalities.

The same day, Vietnamese health authorities confirmed 31 new cases of A/H1N1 flu with 22 detected in southern provinces, three in the north, one in the central region, and five in the Central Highlands.

The new cases increased the number of patients testing positive for the A/H1N1 flu to 703, with no fatalities recorded, said Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga, Chief of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Health Department.

According to health authorities, 386 A/H1N1 flu patients have been discharged from hospital. The remaining 317 cases are now in isolation for treatment at hospitals, or under surveillance in communities, all in stable condition.

Hanoi has seen 47 A/H1N1 flu cases as of July 27, with 37 already released from hospital and the remainder being treated at the National Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases.

According to Hanoi’s Health Department Director Le Anh Tuan, A/H1N1 flu remains under control and has yet to show signs of spreading into communities in the city.

However, he cautioned that there is a high risk for the disease to break out in schools when students gather to prepare for the new academic year on August 17.

To deal with such a possibility, the municipal health department has asked for closely coordinated action by managers of all schools - from kindergartens to universities - in order to promptly respond to any potential outbreak.