Hanoi (VNA)🐓 – According to the Ministry of Public Health, JN.1 variant coronavirus infections are on the rise in Ho Chi Minh City. The ministry asked health establishments to continue conducting genomic sequencing to detect new variants and pathogens while organising additional vaccinations against COVID-19.

Continuing to collect samples, conduct genomic sequencing

At a press briefing of the health sector in the first quarter of 2024 on February 2, Nguyen Luong Tam, Deputy Director of the General Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) said that as it is now winter in the northern hemisphere. The cold weather and monsoons provide favourable conditions for the spread of pathogens causing respiratory diseases. He noted an increase in the number of COVID-19 and respiratory infections in the recent past, with many patients having to be hospitalized. Tam said the JN.1 variant has been found to be the cause of many COVID-19 cases in Ho Chi Minh City. COVID-19 patients treated in the city’s hospitals are mostly the elderly or people with underlying medical conditions, while young people usually show only slight symptoms. JN.1 has been classified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It descends from the Omicron family substrain BA.2.86 which has increased rapidly in many countries around the world and in the region recently. According to Tam, the JN.1 variant is said to be able to reduce the effectiveness of vaccines as well as better evade antibodies, but WHO said there is no evidence that it causes more severe illness than previous variants. The risk it poses to community health is still considered low on a global scale. Therefore, the WHO continues to recommend giving booster shots and additional shots to groups of high risk such as medical workers, the elderly and those with underlying diseases. The health ministry asked institutes of hygiene and epidemiology, Pasteur institutes and hospitals under the health ministry to collect samples and conduct genomic sequencing of severe COVID-19 cases so as to detect new variants and pathogens before they become a problem. Health establishments and localities should organise additional vaccination against COVID-19 for groups of high risk such as the elderly, people with underlying diseases and pregnant women.

Challenges from double disease burden

Addressing the press briefing, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said in 2023, the health sector had maintained epidemic prevention and control. They have effectively responded to newly emerging epidemics and resumed normal medical examinations and treatments while paying attention to perfecting institutions and medical insurance policies. She said the capacity of preventive medicine and grassroots-level healthcare establishments has been enhanced. Many specialized and advanced medical techniques have earned the recognition of the international community. According to the official, the sector will continue to face challenges posed by a double disease burden from the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases, an aging population, climate change, rapid urbanisation, globalisation and changes in behaviours and lifestyle. She stressed that the health sector hopes to receive assistance and support from the media.  The Health Ministry also warned of a high risk of communicable diseases during the Lunar New Year festival and the season of festivals at the beginning of the lunar year. It recommended that people wear face masks, refrain from going out during extreme weather conditions and seek treatment at medical establishments when noticing abnormal signs of health./.