Dr. Tran Thi Hai Ninh, Head of the Department of General Internal Medicine - Central Tropical Diseases Hospital said that the influenza virus spread mainly through two roads.
First, through large drops of fire when the patient coughs or sneezing without covering the mouth or nose, people within a range of about 1m are at risk of infection. Therefore, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, preferably using a disposable paper towel, is an important measure to limit the spread. Smaller breaths can fly far away but often carry fewer viruses, so the risk of infection mainly occurs when exposed to patients.
Secondly, the influenza virus can be spread through direct contact with the mucous membrane in the nose, mouth and throat, for example when the infected person touches the nose, mouth and in contact with the surface or others. This is the reason for regular hand washing and using paper towels properly plays an important role in preventing infection.
Also according to Dr.BS Tran Thi Hai Ninh, a person in the flu can be infected to others from about a day before symptoms and lasts for 5-7 days. The highest possibility of spreading in the first 3-4 days after the onset of symptoms. The risk of uneven infection during the disease, but increased sharply when the patient began to feel tired, this is also the stage when they are most contagious. The risk of influenza from a person before they get sick or after the first three days of the disease is usually quite low. Therefore, when there are signs of illness, it is best to stay home for a few days, especially during the flu season, to limit the spread.
Young children, people with weakened immune systems and cases of severe influenza can excrete viruses through the respiratory tract for longer times.
Dr. Tran Van Phuc - Xanh Pon General Hospital (Hanoi) said that anyone can get the flu. If the disease is not treated promptly, mild flu can become severe, severe disease can progress more complicatedly, causing difficulties and costs in treatment, even threatening life. Winter and spring are the time for increased inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, with typical symptoms such as fever, cough, wheezing. There are more than 200 types of viruses that can cause upper respiratory tract inflammation, of which flu is one of the most contagious diseases. Therefore, it is extremely important to clearly recognize the level of danger of the flu, understand how to transmit and apply preventive measures.
The Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) warns that winter -spring weather conditions with high humidity create favorable conditions for the flu virus and infectious diseases to spread through the thriving respiratory tract. Therefore, people need to take preventive measures such as wearing masks, regular hand washing and adequate vaccine.
The Ministry of Health of Vietnam will continue to monitor and closely follow the development of the epidemic situation in the country and around the world to direct and guide localities and units to implement appropriate measures. At the same time, the Ministry also provides complete and accurate information, not to be confused and worried but also not subjective, neglected by the development of the disease, especially in the present time.
