Children wait for health check-ups at a local hospital in central Phú Yên Province. — Photo plo.vn

PHÚ YÊN — A 27-month-old boy in central Phú Yên Province has reportedly died of Influenza A/H1N1, the provincial Centre for Preventive Medicine announced on Wednesday.

The patient, from Hòa An Commune’s Phú Hòa Ward, had suffered a high fever and coughing since November 29.

He was diagnosed with pneumonia after having a health check-up at a local hospital on November 30. His condition worsened and he was transferred to the General Hospital of neighbouring Bình Định Province for treatment on December 4. He was diagnosed with serious pneumonia.

On December 6, the hospital took a sample of the patient’s blood for testing at the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute and the results showed that he had influenza A/H1N1.

He died on December 9.

Phú Yên Province’s authorities have actively taken measures to prevent further spreading of the disease, including providing chemicals to sterilise areas surrounding his home and disseminate information to raise awareness of the disease.

Deputy director of the province’s Preventive Medicine Centre Biện Ngọc Tân warned that it was difficult to distinguish influenza A/H1N1 from seasonal flu so people should go to health clinics for check-ups and treatment in case they suffer a fever, cough and headache.

People should also maintain personal hygiene and keep their living areas clean in order to prevent the disease, he said. — VNS