The research team on Sunkovir, the first traditional medicine to be licensed for treating respiratory tract viral infections in Việt Nam, on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam has approved the first traditional medicine for treating respiratory tract viral infections, including flu and mild COVID-19.

Sunkovir, licensed by the Ministry of Health on April 12, was announced as the first to treat COVID-19 at the seminar on the effectiveness of traditional medicine products in preventing and treating COVID-19 and seasonal flu in HCM City on Tuesday.

Dr Trương Thị Ngọc Lan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ethnic Medicine in HCM City and the research team member said within three days of using Sunkovir, all patients experienced a rapid reduction in symptoms without any worsening.

None of the study's 1,115 COVID-19 patients who used Sunkovir experienced severe symptoms.

Moreover, Sunkovir significantly reduced the severity of symptoms such as coughs, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, nosebleeds, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, chest pain, sneezing, chills, sweating, and insomnia from the third day.

On average, patients recovered from all symptoms within seven days.

The medicine also reduced the need for corticosteroids, anticoagulants, antipyretics, cough suppressants, expectorants, antihistamines, antivirals and gastrointestinal drugs.

Lan said Sunkovir is recommended for respiratory viral infections such as flu and mild COVID-19 in the early stages to reduce symptoms quickly. It can be combined with modern medical treatment regimes such as antipyretics, anti-inflammatories, pain relievers, cough suppressants, and antibiotics if necessary.

Dr Huỳnh Nguyễn Lộc, Director of the Institute of Traditional Medicine in HCM City, said at the seminar that Sunkovir is the first and only traditional medicine to be licensed by the Ministry of Health in Việt Nam.

This achievement results from the research team's efforts to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of Vietnamese herbal products in the fight against COVID-19, with the determination of hundreds of Vietnamese doctors and pharmacists.

In addition to Sunkovir's effectiveness, the seminar updated the research results on the effectiveness of traditional medicine products in preventing and treating COVID-19 and seasonal flu.

Pandemic concern during holidays

Although the number of new COVID-19 cases has increased, the possibility of a large-scale outbreak leading to crowded hospitals or even an increase in deaths is unlikely, according to Trần Đắc Phu, Senior Advisor to the Việt Nam Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.

But he did say that health departments must examine any possible risks and be weary of new strains of the virus.

Phu said that although the sub-variants were spreading rapidly, they were still from the Omicron strain, which mainly causes mild symptoms.

HCM City ready to respond

A field hospital with a maximum capacity of 1,800 beds is ready to resume its operation in case there is a surging need for COVID-19 treatment.

The Field Hospital No 13 has 100 intensive care beds and 1,700 beds for serious emergency cases. It will resume operation when serious COVID-19 cases treated at the city’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases exceed 50 patients. 

The city Department of Health has ordered local hospitals to prepare to resume COVID-19 treatment units as cases have been surging in recent days.

The city has 46 health facilities having COVID-19 treatment units with 2,255 beds, including 970 beds equipped with oxygen machines and 338 intensive care beds.

According to Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh Châu, deputy director of the municipal Department of Health, the city has been ready to respond to the pandemic’s resurgence.

Hospitals have been asked to prepare drugs, biological products for testing, medical equipment and supplies in case of complicated pandemic development.

The Department of Health will list 10 COVID-19 experts for professional assistance.

The city has stored more than 2,000 doses of the intravenous antiviral drug Remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment, ready to be supplied to hospitals in need.

The department requested that central hospitals monitor the clinical assessment of severe COVID-19 cases and send genetic sequencing tests to assess the severity of the disease.

All cases need to declare a history of vaccination fully.

59 vaccination venues will be open throughout the holidays from April 29 to May 3 in 21 districts and Thủ Đức City for people aged 18 and over.

On April 24, the Centre for Disease Control in Cần Thơ City announced the implementation of rapid tests for SARS-CoV-2 antigen to monitor key areas: medical centres, residential areas, schools, markets, State agencies and enterprises to control the situation during the holidays.

Cần Thơ City CDC has received 68,000 test kits for students at Kim Đồng and Lê Lợi schools (Ninh Kiều District) aged five to 11 years old.

Cần Thơ CDC is also offering tests to teachers, school workers, and parents.

"COVID tests are completely voluntary, so parents and students can refuse to participate at any time," a Cần Thơ CDC representative said. – VNS