Vietnam proactively responds to complicated developments of seasonal flu

Faced with the complicated developments of the seasonal flu epidemic, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced preventive measures at a regular press conference on the afternoon of February 13. Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang emphasized: "Authorities are proactively monitoring the epidemic situation, especially seasonal flu and respiratory diseases, to promptly respond to mutated virus strains."

Specifically, Vietnam focuses on three groups of solutions. The first is "Close monitoring", which includes increased testing of suspected cases in schools, industrial zones and communities. The early warning system is operated continuously to detect cases promptly.

Next is the "resource preparation" solution. Hospitals are required to prepare human resources, medical equipment and medicines. Essential supplies are added to meet the demand if the epidemic breaks out.

The final solution is “International cooperation”. Vietnam is ready to coordinate with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to update epidemiological information, share experiences and prepare cross-border response plans.

In addition to the above solutions, Vietnam has also tightened immigration regulations and increased quarantine at border gates to prevent the risk of spreading from outside. Communication work to raise public awareness has been stepped up, encouraging people to get regular flu vaccinations and comply with personal hygiene measures.

Although seasonal flu still poses many risks, Vietnam's thorough preparation and quick response are being highly appreciated. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang affirmed: "Vietnam is committed to protecting people's health and maintaining cooperation with the international community to effectively control the epidemic."

People in Soc Son district (Hanoi) get seasonal flu shots at local medical facilities. Photo: Tung Nguyen/kinhtedothi.vn

Since the end of 2024, many Asian countries have recorded a spike in flu cases. Among them, Japan saw nearly 320,000 infections in the last week of 2024, the highest level since 1999. Overcrowding in many hospitals in this country continued until the end of January 2025.

In South Korea, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported the most severe flu outbreak since 2016, with two strains of the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) accounting for nearly 50% of cases. Meanwhile, Taiwan (China) recorded more than 162,000 infections and 25 deaths in the last 10 days of January 2025.

Experts warn that the unpredictable changes of the flu virus and the winter-spring weather are the reasons for the rapid spread of the epidemic. This requires international coordination and careful preparation from each country.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/viet-nam-chu-dong-ung-pho-truoc-dien-bien-phuc-tap-cua-dich-cum-mua.html