Deputy PM Nhan says greater awareness of the disease’s threat vital to curbing spread

HA NOI — Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan stressed yesterday that greater H1N1 flu threat was vital to controlling the spread of the disease.

-"Each student should know how to protect himself or herself and to prevent the A/H1N1 spreading efore the opening day of the new school year," Nhan, who is also Minister
of Education and Training, said during an online meeting with health and education officials from HCM City, Da Nang Province and the Ministry of Health.

-The number of super flu infections in Viet Nam has reached 499, including 24 reported yesterday, according to the health ministry.

-Nhan also called on schools nationwide to set up steering committees on A/H1N1 flu prevention before the new school year.

-"Measures are needed to control the spread of the A/H1N1 flu, especially when the new school year begins next month," Nhan said.

-Health Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training take steps to inform schools about the A/H1N1 flu danger.

-"Schools represent the highest level of danger to the community," Trieu said.

-The health sector said that schools where A/H1N1 had been detected should be immediately closed.

-He also said guidelines should be given to teachers and students on super flu prevention.

-Nhan also said the mass media had a duty to inform the public about the A/H1N1 flu threat.

-The education and health ministries plan to issue guidelines on A/H1N1 prevention to 41,000 schools nationwide and to train teachers and students on A/H1N1 prevention.

-Second school closed

-A private school in HCM City was temporarily closed yesterday after tests showed two students were infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus.

-Nguyen Van Chau, head of the city’s health department, said the outbreak at Nguyen Khuyen School was triggered by a 12th grader from Gia Lai Province, who had contact with an infected student at Ngo Thoi Nhiem School.

-The municipal department yesterday quarantined 47 students who had a high temperature. Five students were taken to Tan Binh District’s hospital.

-Phan Van Nghiem, head of the department’s Medical Professional Office, said students should wear masks and boarders should return home.

-Le Trong Tin, the principal, said there were 2,000 students boarding at the school.

-Nguyen Khuyen School in Tan Binh District was the second school in Viet Nam where the A/H1N1 has been detected. The school will remain closed until August 15.

-Ngo Thoi Nhiem School in District 9 in HCM City was temporarily closed last week because of A/H1N1 infections.

-Seventy-two students at the school were infected with the virus. They were quarantined at the school, where emergency medical services have been set up.

-Nguyen Dac Tho, deputy head of HCM City Preventive Medicine Centre, said brochures on H1N1 flu protection and prevention would be distributed.

-Huynh Cong Minh, head of the city’s Department of Education and Training, said all boarding schools had been temporarily closed until August 15.

NVT