An elderly patient receives treatment at a medical facility in Hanoi (Photo: baotintuc.vn)
According to health professionals, the seasonal flu outbreak in Japan and elsewhere around the world hasraised concerns about its spread.
Domestically, the number of flu cases has been rising sharply in recent days. Due to negligence, many patients have been admitted to hospitals in critical condition, suffering from respiratory failure and requiring mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Health experts say seasonal flu is primarily caused by influenza viruses, mostly A/H1N1, A/H3N3, and Influenza B.
Young patients suffering from influenza A usually only show mild symptoms. However, when it comes to the elderly, people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as children under five, the disease poses a higher rate of severe complications and evendeath.
As of the morning of February 6, the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi has treated 13 severe flu cases, with some requiring ECMO support.
Dr. Pham Van Phuc, deputy director of the Intensive Care Center, said the illness can become life-threatening, leading to widespread lung damage, bacterial superinfection, myocarditis, multi-organ failure, and even death.
Early detection and treatment are therefore crucial, he highlighted.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that annual epidemics of influenza result in about onebillion infections, including three million to fivemillion cases of severe illness and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths. The severity of pandemic influenza depends on multiple factors, including the virulence of the pandemic virus strain and the level of pre-existing immunity.
According to Bach Thi Chinh, medical director of the Vietnam Vaccine JSC Vaccination System, vaccination remains the most effective measure used to prevent the disease. In her opinions, vaccinated people get a little chance to fall ill , and vaccines therefore help to reduce hospitalisations, the risk of severe illness, and deaths.
Moreover, as the antigens of the influenza virus change every year, whilst the protective antibodies from the vaccine gradually decrease over time, everyone needs to get an updated vaccine dose every year, she suggested.
The doctor also suggested that people should don 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.
