The Ministry of Health fears that the spread of influenza A (H1N1) is uncontrollable following an increase in the number of infected people and the failure to thoroughly monitor passengers arriving with them on flights.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health confirmed seven more cases of swine flu on June 11 following tests, taking the total number of cases in Vietnam so far to 26.
All 26 involve people arriving in Viet Nam by air or having close contact with infected relatives following their arrival.
With 12 infected people arriving aboard the same flight from the US to Vietnam after transiting in Hong Kong on June 5, the Pasteur Institute in HCMC is worried about the possibility of more people contracting the virus aboard the aircraft.
In fact, four flights carrying several infected people among hundreds of others arrived in Vietnam between May 30 and June 6, but few of the other passengers are under surveillance.
The head of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment, Nguyen Huy Nga, warned people who have been in close contact with patients to report to local medical workers if they suffer from fever, sore throat, and aches or pains.
