Ninh Binh strengthens monitoring, treatment, prevention and control of seasonal flu

NDO - In the face of the outbreak of seasonal flu in some countries around the world and the number of cases tending to increase in the provinces, the health sector of Ninh Binh province has proactively and drastically implemented disease control work, strengthened surveillance activities in the community and medical facilities, especially event-based surveillance to promptly detect suspected cases of flu in the area.

Recently, the number of seasonal flu cases has tended to increase, especially among young children and the elderly in Ninh Binh. According to the Ninh Binh Provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the number of patients coming for examination and treatment has increased rapidly in recent weeks. From the beginning of January 2025 to now, there have been more than 650 pediatric patients coming for examination due to flu symptoms, of which more than 200 pediatric patients have been hospitalized for treatment, mainly with influenza A.

“Nearly 10 days ago, my baby had a fever. I gave him fever reducer at home but it didn’t reduce much. In addition, he had a cough, difficulty breathing, and a lot of phlegm, so I took him to the hospital for treatment. After 7 days in the hospital, he was more playful and healthier,” said Ms. Bui Thu Thuong, Tam Diep city, Ninh Binh province.

People should not arbitrarily buy medicine to treat themselves at home, it can easily make the disease worse and cause unfortunate complications.

According to doctors, the reason for the increase in children getting sick is due to sudden changes in the weather, which is a favorable condition for viruses and bacteria to develop. Children from 6 months to under 36 months old have weak resistance and are not yet adapted to the cold weather, so they are susceptible to illness and serious illness.

Talking with Dr. Vu Thi Son, Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Ninh Binh Province Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, it is known that: Most of the patients when admitted to the hospital are in a state of high fever that is difficult to reduce, prolonged fever, wheezing cough, accompanied by complications of flu such as pneumonia, otitis media,... Cases of simple flu, treatment for about 3 days and discharge; cases of flu with secondary infection must be treated for 7 to 10 days.

Doctor Vu Thi Son also recommends that at the time of changing seasons, children should be fed and drink enough, improve their resistance, especially ensure hygiene in the family, always keep the room cool, have daily air flow and when the weather changes from season to season, children should not be allowed to go out to sudden temperature changes; children should be taken to medical facilities for timely examination when there are signs of flu. For families with members showing signs of fever and cough, they should be isolated to limit the source of infection for children.

Medical team of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Ninh Binh Provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital examines and treats pediatric patients.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that are prevalent throughout the world. Symptoms of seasonal influenza include sudden fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, sore throat, and runny nose. The cough can be severe and last for 2 weeks or more.

Groups at high risk of contracting the disease and experiencing severe complications include infants under 6 months of age, children under 5 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, especially people over 65 years of age with chronic underlying diseases such as diabetes, heart and lung disease, kidney or liver failure, weakened immune systems, healthcare workers, family members who regularly care for patients, and people who frequently travel between countries.

Dr. Ngo Thi Thuy, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Immunization, Ninh Binh Province Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, added: Seasonal flu is a very complex virus, it always tries to change the structure of its surface antigens to hide from the host's immune system, so every year researchers will base on the weather, climate, ... to prepare vaccine strains equivalent to the current circulating virus strains. Therefore, everyone from 6 months of age and older and adults need to get vaccinated against seasonal flu every year. The peak flu season will fall in winter and spring, so the best time to get vaccinated is in September and October.

Currently, Ninh Binh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has all types of seasonal flu vaccines to vaccinate all subjects. On average, the hospital's Nutrition and Immunization Department vaccinates about 200-250 flu shots per month.

According to Dr. Nguyen Mai Thanh, Ninh Binh Province Center for Disease Control, since January 2025, the number of patients with influenza has increased slightly compared to the previous 2 months. Regular monitoring results at provincial hospitals show that the number of hospitalizations due to influenza tends to increase but according to the seasonal cycle of the disease; no unusual developments in clinical symptoms have been recorded.

Implementing the direction of the Ministry of Health in Official Dispatch No. 656/BYT-DP dated February 8, 2025 on strengthening the prevention and control of influenza, measles and respiratory diseases, the health sector of Ninh Binh province has fully prepared medicines, chemicals, and equipment for epidemic prevention and control, applied epidemic prevention and control measures, resolutely and quickly suppressed epidemics when they occur and when they are still small in scale; closely monitor and regularly assess the epidemic situation to promptly deploy epidemic prevention and control measures.

At the same time, coordinate with media units to increase news and articles to propagate and advise people about the transmission characteristics of influenza, disease symptoms, disease declaration, measures to prevent influenza transmission for themselves and their families according to the recommendations of the Department of Preventive Medicine; organize well the examination, consultation, and treatment of influenza, promptly guide disease prevention measures, fully prepare to avoid shortage of drugs, not increase drug prices; strengthen infection control to prevent cross-infection in hospitals according to regulations of the Ministry of Health.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ninh-binh-tang-cuong-giam-sat-dieu-tri-phong-chong-benh-cum-mua-post859644.html