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The UK mutant virus spread more rapidly, raising concerns about the effects of the vaccine. Vietnam will sequence this virus sample.
Mutant viruses spread 70% faster
At the online conference with more than 700 bridge points for the prevention of Covid-19 diseases on the morning of December 23, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that scientists are concentrating information on mutant strains of SARS -CoV-2 in the UK. special concern. The Ministry of Health is also closely monitoring this information.
“The new mutant strain increases the ability of the virus to adhere to host cells, thus increasing the rate of spread by 70% compared to the old strains. This is very worrying because increased infection means stronger community transmission. , a faster cycle, more infected people, more deaths ”, the Minister worried.
The Covid-19 epidemic in Da Nang in July-August found that the D614G mutant strain was heavily disseminated, but not by the new strain.
However, so far, scientists have not found that this variant invalidates the vaccine.
The Minister of Health is concerned that the SARS-CoV-2 variant will spread more forcefully and, if a community explodes, it will be difficult to control.
“Despite the concerns, we must face this tension with great calm,” emphasized the Minister of Health.
Currently, the health sector has sequenced the genes in all samples disseminated at the national level and in the near future will continue to sequence virus samples in Europe and in countries with genetic variation to determine the possibility of transmission and penetrate Vietnam.
“We have not discovered any virus strain in Vietnam that has this area of mutation. However, not for you to neglect epidemic prevention. The Health Ministry will intensify measures to prevent Covid-19 and ensure that people enjoy a peaceful New Year, ”said Minister Long.
According to the Minister of Health, this year’s winter is fierce for countries, if not actively prevented, it will have many serious consequences.
The epidemic in the world is still complicated, with 500,000 – 600,000 new cases registered every day. Some neighboring countries, even some countries with the best anti-epidemic models like Japan and Korea, are also having to implement strong measures due to the resurgence of the epidemic. Therefore, Vietnam must further strengthen epidemic control activities.
“First, it is necessary to further strengthen supervision in health facilities. The first case of Covid-19 was almost exclusively from the hospital. In this season, many diseases spread through the respiratory tract, such as influenza with symptoms very similar to Covid-19, so the Ministry has demanded that all these cases be examined, ”said the Minister and ordered to continue. continuously improve productivity, testability.
Disease prevention at the highest level
The minister asked that from now until the end of the year, localities should prevent the Covid-19 epidemic at the highest level, preparing for all the worst situations.
“We cannot know where the new Covid-19 will be detected. Therefore, localities must plan in advance to see how to take samples on a large scale, to ensure that treatment facilities when Covid-19 cases occur and the hospital must be blocked, ”emphasized the Minister of Health.
The Minister also suggested that the localities continue to strengthen the strict management of the people who enter (illegal, legal). There are between 100 and 150 people entering illegally every day on all border lines. This is of great concern despite the fact that Vietnam has established 1,600 border posts with more than 10,000 people blocking it.
With the cases of legal entry, the Minister of Health proposed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to restrict return flights from epidemic areas, especially from countries with new variants.
Isolation should be reinforced in the countryside, to avoid contaminating the community as well as in the city. HCM City. The cases of isolation in homes, accommodation establishments, localities should be in charge of inspecting and monitoring these establishments on the level of guarantee and compliance with isolation.
Regarding the situation of vaccine production in the country, in addition to Nanogen, another 2 units will begin clinical trials next March. The Ministry of Health is also negotiating with countries for a vaccine soon.
However, the minister emphasized: “We do not depend on vaccines, although there are vaccines, we still have to drastically implement prevention measures.”
Dr Kidong Park, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said that after more than a year of the pandemic, the most important lesson shows that focusing on the response is really effective.
“Over the past decade, Vietnam has strived to increase its response to medical emergencies, which has resulted in a successful control of the Covid-19 epidemic. This is not an overnight success, but a success that has been achieved through many years of preparation, ”said Mr. Kidong Park.
According to Dr. Park, when economies and societies reopen, global epidemics will continue to change, so there must be a further strengthening of preventive measures in order to respond and adapt.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is the largest pandemic in more than 100 years. Pandemic shows the importance of a flexible and strong healthcare system. We do not know when or where the next pandemic will occur. However, we know for sure that this is not the last human pandemic ”, acknowledged the WHO Representative in Vietnam.
The Covid-19 pandemic reminds countries to avoid epidemics while, at the same time, avoid disrupting basic health services and better prepare for the response.
“If the world is not prepared, the next pandemic will overtake Covid-19 both in terms of scope and impact,” said Dr. Park.
He wanted Vietnam to invest more to make the health system increasingly strong, flexible and ready to deal with new diseases in the future.
Thuy Hanh
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