Vietnam : Doctors concerned about likely expansion of H3N2 flu virus in Hanoi

Via Saigon Daily :

" Medical workers fretted that seasonal H3N2 flu virus continued to be widespread in Hanoi and the disease is likely to erupt into epidemic.

Seasonal influenza viruses, H1N1 and H3N2, flow out of overlapping epidemics in Vietnam. Meanwhile H1N1 has been controlled, most influenza infections this season have been attributed to influenza A (H3N2) viruses.

According to Dr. Nguyen Hong Ha, deputy director of the National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, there has been an increase of H3N2 patients. The hospital receives over 130 people suffering from the flu a day, doubling the number of last weeks.

All of patients experienced high fever, cough, respiratory problems, body pain, runny nose and sore throat. Tests proved the disease is caused by H3N2 virus. Dr. Ha stressed although it is normal seasonal flu, patients can suffer dangerous complications because H3N2 can cause pneumonia which leads to death. These people of the high risk group including pregnant women, the elderly, children, and people with chronic diseases are vulnerable to the virus."