Vietnam: Two cases of severe complication of influenza A/H1N1 infection
29/07/2009
VietNamNet Bridge – At least four A/H1N1 flu patients had not responded normally to treatment at the HCM City Tropical Diseases Hospital, its deputy director said on Monday.
Two of the cases might be drug resistant, said Dr Tran Tinh Hien.
The announcement by Hien came as the city stepped up preparations to fight the spread of the flu, assigning more facilities and manpower as the number of patients testing positive for the virus increased sharply in recent days.
Health officials have warned that up to 2 million people could be infected by the virus as the epidemic spreads.
Dr Phan Van Nghiem, head of the HCM City Department of Health's Medical Profession Division, said the municipal administration had allocated VND6 billion for the purchase of facilities like ambulances, respiratory aids and masks for city hospital staff.
All hospitals in the city were how allowed to receive and treat A/H1N1 flu patients and an additional 300 beds had been prepared at district-level hospitals, health officials said during a meeting of health officials and the city's Committee for Epidemic Prevention on Monday.
Besides the hospital facilities, medicines to treat the flu were also a major issue mentioned by doctors.
With the predicted number of patients, the city needs around 20 million tablets of Tamiflu, while it currently has just 13,000 in stock.
The Ministry of Health would be asked to assist the city in getting more tablets. A city health department official said it had requested the ministry for an immediate addition of 30,000 Tamiflu tablets.
Truong Quoc Cuong, head of the Viet Nam Drug Administration, said the country had enough materials to produce 10 million Tamiflu tablets. If necessary, more medicines as well as materials would be imported, he said.
Meanwhile, director of the Ha Noi Health Department Le Anh Tuan said that the city had prepared an A/H1N1 prevention plan.
Four sub-committees have been formed based on the scenario that health staff, medical facilities and drugs were reserved to provide treatment for 2,000 patients. All hospitals have reserved special isolation and treatment areas and have strengthened communication, and examination and monitoring for the disease.
The municipal health department also requested all State offices and schools to inform the local health sector or to call the department hotline if a case of A/H1N1 occurs. The health sector will send staff to localise and isolate patients, and monitor the disease area.
According to the department's statistics, as of yesterday there were 47 A/H1N1 cases in the city. Thirty-one had been discharged from the hospital and 16 were being treated at the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases.
The Hai Phong Health Department yesterday also reported the first A/H1N1 flu cluster in the city when five members of one family were found positive with the virus in Kenh Duong ward, Le Chan district.
The Ministry of Health reported 31 new A/H1N1 cases, bringing the nation's total to 703 cases and still no fatalities.
hat-tip Monotreme
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