The Ministry of Health on May 31 confirmed the first case of A(H1N1) flu after a 23-year-old student in Ho Chi Minh City tested positive to the virus.

The patient is in stable condition and still in isolation at the Tropical Disease Hospital , reported the municipal Health Service at a press briefing on May 31,

The student who returned from the USA had light fever on May 25 but he did not seek treatment until May 27.

Municipal Health Service Director Nguyen Van Chau said although all the five other members of the patient’s family tested negative to the virus, they are still quarantined at the municipal Tropical Disease Hospital .

Other people, who were detected to have contacts with the patient, including medical staffs at the Hoan My, Thong Nhat and Tropical Disease Hospitals and the Preventive Medicine Centre at Tan Binh district, have also been put under quarantine.

Disinfection has been carried out at the patient’s house and surrounding areas as well as places he had visited.

On May 31, the HCM City Health Service held an emergency meeting with relevant medical institutions to discuss measures against the spread of the epidemics.

A senior official, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Dua, has been assigned to work with the health service on containing the epidemic.

Monitoring at the 17 border gates nationwide has been tightened, especially on those who arrive from countries affected by A(H1N1) flu.

The ministry warned new international arrivals from the epidemic-hit countries to self-monitor their health within seven days after their arrival as well as turn to local medical stations for consultancy and follow medical workers’ advice just in case.

Hotlines of local heath departments and Pasteur institutes have been publicized nationwide for people to report suspected cases of A(H1N1)./.