Vietnam confirmed seven more cases of A/H1N1 flu on June 24, bringing the total of infected victims in the country to 63, according to the Health Ministry.

The patients include two in Hanoi and five in Ho Chi Minh City.

Additionally, four other people in Ho Chi Minh City have tested positive for the virus after the first test, but the results of a second test are being awaited to confirm the diagnosis.

At a meeting of the Steering Committee Against Human Influenza on June 24, Head of the National Hygiene and Epidemiology Institute, Dr. Nguyen Tran Hien said that the A/H1N1 treatment plan by the Health Ministry is yielding good results.

After two days of treatment, fevers were brought down in most patients and they tested negative to H1N1 virus, he said, adding that to date, Tamiflu is still the recommended treatment.

At present, patients carrying the H1N1 virus are those returning from foreign countries or those who have had close contact with them. The virus has not spread widely in the community, said Head of the Preventive Health and Environment Department Nguyen Huy Nga.

However, he also warned of the risk of the H1N1 virus combining with the H5N1 type, as the latter, known as the bird flu, has shown signs of reappearance in northern Quang Ninh province.

The Health Ministry will continue to work closely with other ministries, agencies and localities to take preventive measures to control the spread of the epidemic.
According to WHO, by June 24, the ‘super flu’ had hit 108 countries and territories with 55,867 cases of A/H1N1 reported, 238 of which were fatal./.