The Center for Disease Control in Binh Dinh Province, south-central Vietnam, reported on Friday the second death caused by influenza A/H1pdm within a month, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The center had submitted a report to the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province and the Binh Dinh Department of Health regarding the death of N.N.T., a 59-year-old resident of My Thang Commune in Binh Dinh’s Phu My District.

T. began experiencing symptoms including a high fever, cough with yellow phlegm, chest pain, headache, and body aches on October 28.  

After initially seeking treatment at a private clinic without improvement, T.’s family took him to the hospital on November 2. 

He was diagnosed with pneumonia of an unspecified cause. 

Despite three days of treatment, his condition deteriorated, leading to labored breathing and the use of accessory respiratory muscles.  

At 1:30 am on November 7, T. fell into a deep coma, had a persistently high fever, poor lung ventilation, and moist rales and crackles in both lungs. 

At his family’s request, he was taken home and passed away that evening.  

Following the progression of the illness, the Center for Disease Control of Binh Dinh Province collected samples and sent them to the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang. 

Test results confirmed that T. was positive for influenza A/H1pdm.  

The health sector quickly conducted an epidemiological investigation in T.’s community. 

They disinfected the patient’s home, surrounding households, and other relevant locations with Chloramine B to prevent further transmission.  

This is the second death caused by influenza A/H1pdm recorded in Binh Dinh. 

The previous case involved T.V.T., born in 1973, from Vinh Thanh Town, Vinh Thanh District. 

He experienced a high fever, headache, body aches, and severe coughing with wheezing. 

Despite family members providing medication of an unknown type, his condition worsened, and he was hospitalized, before he eventually succumbed to the disease at home.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Associate Professor Do Van Dung, a senior public health lecturer at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, explained that the A/H1N1 pdm09 flu virus was first identified during the 2009 flu pandemic.

After the pandemic, it became a common virus circulating in the population.

As it is a seasonal flu virus, it generally causes severe illness only in people aged over 65, pregnant women, children, and those with comorbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and heart failure.

The health expert advised the public not to be overly concerned about this ailment.

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