All seven high fever cases suspected of having the A/H1N1 flu in Vietnam, including a Danish person, have been confirmed of being negative for the A/H1N1 flu, the online newspaper www.vietnamnet.com reported Monday.
The seven persons arrived at Ho Chi Minh city’s Tan Son Nhat international airport of Vietnam on Sunday, including two Vietnamese children returning home from China’s Hong Kong, two overseas Vietnamese from the U.S., one foreigner from Denmark, one foreigner from Australia, and the last one from China’s Hong Kong coming to Vietnam on May 1.
The test results by Vietnam’s Institute of Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City showed that all seven high fever cases tested negative for the A/H1N1 virus, said Nguyen Van Chau, director of the Ho Chi Minh Health Department. These seven cases will be kept on close watch on their health development within ten to 15 days, said Chau. Although no cases of the A/H1N1 flu have been detected in Vietnam so far, the Ministry of Health has asked relevant agencies and forces to be on full alert at border gates, including airports and seaports, to deal with first possible cases of infection in a timely manner. The virus has characteristics of avian, human and swine virus, according to World Health Organization. Swift preventive measures were being taken against the spread of the virus in Vietnam, said the ministry. National health agencies have started monitoring body temperatures of tourists arriving at airports.
The ministry also warned people about the need for personal hygiene such as wearing face masks, washing hands regularly with soap, practicing good health habits with adequate sleep and eating nutritious food.
