Weather conditions and demand for trade and tourism are increasing, especially during the 2024 Lunar New Year and the festival season at the beginning of the year, leading to a very high risk of increased infectious diseases, according to the Ministry. Medical…
The information was announced by the Ministry of Health at a meeting to provide medical information in the first quarter of 2024, February 2.
INCREASING CASES OF COVID-19 AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES
The Ministry of Health said that currently, in some areas of the world, it is winter with cold weather and monsoons, which are favorable conditions for respiratory pathogens to spread. In particular, the number of Covid-19 and other respiratory transmitted diseases has increased recently and many cases require hospitalization.
With Covid-19, the JN.1 variant has detected cases in Vietnam. This is a variant of concern (VOI), according to the classification of the World Health Organization (WHO), is the BA.2.86 sub-branch variant of Omicron, which has increased rapidly in many countries around the world. and in the area recently.
The JN.1 variant is considered to have the ability to reduce the effectiveness of vaccines as well as evade immunity. However, according to the World Health Organization, there is currently no evidence that this variant is more virulent or causes more severe disease than previous variants, and the public health risk is still assessed at low levels. low at the global level.
The World Health Organization continues to recommend the implementation of booster shots and additional shots of Covid-19 vaccine in high-risk groups such as health workers, children, the elderly and people with medical conditions. background.
In our country, the Ministry of Health said that the weather is still unusual. Particularly in the Northern region, it is a cold, dry season, alternating with humid weather, causing many infectious diseases to spread, especially respiratory diseases.
Moreover, the demand for trade and tourism is increasing, especially during the Lunar New Year 2024 and the upcoming New Year festival season, the risk of increasing infectious diseases is very high.
Representatives of units of the Ministry of Health provided information at the meeting.
To proactively prevent and control epidemics and effectively control infectious diseases, especially respiratory diseases and during the Lunar New Year and festival season, the Ministry of Health has continuously issued official dispatches. to direct the strengthening of epidemic prevention and control in the Winter-Spring season and during the Lunar New Year and the first festival season of the year.
At the same time, regularly provide and update recommendations and instructions for people to take measures to prevent winter-spring diseases and respiratory diseases.
Along with that, direct localities to coordinate closely with the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur and hospitals under the Ministry of Health to take samples and sequence genes to early detect new variants and pathogens. diseases, especially pathogens transmitted through the respiratory tract. Organize additional vaccination against Covid-19 for target groups, especially high-risk groups such as the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women…
The Ministry of Health also directed the Departments of Health to urgently advise the People’s Committees of provinces and cities to soon issue plans to prevent and control infectious diseases, arrange funding, mobilize resources and advise the People’s Councils. People promulgate spending norms for content in the field of preventive medicine and epidemic prevention to proactively deploy epidemic prevention and control activities right from the beginning of the year.
Regarding the Ministry’s infectious disease prevention and control plan, it has now been completed and procedures completed to prepare for promulgation.
STRENGTHEN MONITORING, DO NOT LET THE DISEASE SPREAD
At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that in 2023, the Health sector has continued to maintain achievements in epidemic prevention and control and effectively respond to emerging diseases.
However, in 2024, the industry will still face challenges due to the double burden of disease with an increase in the proportion of non-communicable diseases; Population aging, climate change… Meanwhile, people’s health care needs are increasingly high and diverse, but the health system’s ability to respond is limited…
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong informed at the meeting.
In the current context, it is a time of many events, including the Lunar New Year celebration of Giap Thin 2024, so Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that the media during this time plays a very important role to Disseminate and communicate about Laws, Decrees, and Circulars guiding the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, and knowledge to units and people on disease prevention and control as recommended by the Ministry of Health.
Especially infectious diseases, diseases transmitted through the respiratory tract, groups at high risk of disease, such as children with weak resistance, the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions…
To strengthen medical work to ensure the celebration of the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin, the Ministry of Health requests localities and units to continue monitoring, supervising, early detecting, and promptly thoroughly handling outbreaks of infectious diseases. infection, do not let it spread or spread to the community.
Especially, strengthen inspection and surveillance of epidemics at border gates to detect early, isolate and promptly handle suspected cases and cases of infectious diseases, to prevent epidemics from entering and spreading. into Vietnam. Develop a plan to be ready to respond to epidemic situations.
Regarding treatment, hospitals under the Ministry need to improve their collection and treatment capacity. Strictly implement procedures for screening, segregation, isolation, ensuring hospital infection prevention and control, preventing cross-infection…