HCM City warns about disease outbreaks during lunar New Year
VOV.VN - The increasing demand for trading and travelling during the Lunar New Year holiday will pose a high risk of disease outbreaks, especially those transmitted through the respiratory systems, according to the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City (HCDC).
The HCDC cited the World Health Organization (WHO) saying the number of COVID-19 cases has slightly increased since December 2023, with most cases infected with a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, JN.1 as ween in Singapore and India. The WHO also classified the new JN.1 strain as a "variant of interest".
The HCDC noted that although the number of hospitalisations in the city has fallen sharply, new variants may spread among the community and attack the elderly and unvaccinated persons. The good news is that COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 drugs are reportedly still effective against the new variant JN.1.
Meanwhile, at the end of the year people tend to consume more poultry which can in turn increase the risk of influenza A(H5N1) occurring in humans. Cambodia that borders several southern localities of Vietnam recorded six influenza A(H5N1) cases, including four deaths last year.
Following the risk of increased epidemics at the end of the year, Ho Chi Minh City’s health sector recommended that people proactively take preventative measures to protect themselves against diseases.
The HCDC requested that people wear masks in public places, regularly wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer, and cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing in a bid to prevent respiratory diseases.
Moreover, people need to avoid contact with people showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as cough, fever, and difficulty in breathing to prevent the further spread of diseases.
Along with these efforts, people should get vaccinated for diseases such as flu and COVID-19.
The HCDC also reminded people not to use sick or dead poultry or poultry products of unknown origin for meals.
