Second influenza A / H1N1-related death reported in Trà Vinh Province

TRÀ VINH — Trà Vinh Province in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta has confirmed it second fatality from A/H1N1 swine flu this season.

The provincial Department of Health confirmed with vietnamplus.vn on Tuesday that 82-year-old Nguyễn Thị Mừng in Hiếu Tử Commune, Tiểu Cần District had succumbed to the virus.

On July 27, the patient contracted a high fever and water retention, and was hospitalised three days later at Trà Vinh Province’s General Hospital with the initial diagnosis pointing to pneumonia and heart problems. Her symptoms developed rapidly and she died on August 9.

According to the HCM City Pasteur Institute, samples from Nguyễn Thị Mừng had tested positive for the A/H1N1 virus.

Nguyễn Văn Lơ, head of the provincial Disease Control Centre, said staff had been disinfecting the patient’s house and surrounding areas.

Health workers have told people close to the patient to check for early symptoms such as high fever, coughing, headaches and muscle pains.

The province has detected four cases of influenza A/H1N1, all in Tiểu Cần District, deputy director of the provincial health department Nguyễn Hữu Phước said.

The province is taking measures to prevent the spread of swine flu in the region.

The rainy season is an ideal environment for many seasonal diseases and puts the region at high risk of swine flu outbreaks. — VNS