Influenza A cases rise in Vietnam causing severe respiratory issues

Medical professionals in Vietnam are reporting a rise in severe Influenza A cases, noting that patients can experience critical respiratory failure even with relatively low fevers.

At the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, doctors have treated elderly patients with severe pneumonia and impaired gas exchange requiring high levels of oxygen support. Complications such as previous strokes can exacerbate the condition by hindering a patient's ability to clear mucus from the airways.

Simultaneously, Hanoi Children's Hospital reports an increase in pediatric Influenza A cases over the last five to six weeks. Approximately 10% to 20% of children testing positive for the virus require hospitalization due to complications like pneumonia, myocarditis, or the worsening of underlying chronic conditions. Most affected children are under the age of five, with a high concentration of cases in those under two years old.